Transcript Integral Psychology Integrating Philosophy, Religion and

Moral Literacy:
Helping Students Develop
Competence for Happiness
Dr. Rodney H. Clarken
Northern Michigan University
Presented at the Upper Peninsula Reading Conference,
Marquette, MI
October 9, 2009
Moral Crisis
The current crisis in this time of global
transformation is in the final analysis a
moral crisis. Any reform efforts that fail to
address the underlying moral issues of this
crisis are doomed to failure.
© Rodney H. Clarken 2009
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We live in an age of ever
increasing and accelerating
moral and social decline
“high and rising rates of depression,
anxiety, attention deficit, conduct
disorders, thoughts of suicide, and other
serious mental, emotional, and
behavioral problems among children and
adolescents”. (Hardwired to Connect, p. 5)
© Rodney H. Clarken 2009
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The Problem
Confusion about morals and morality, and
how to engender them.
Happiness, which is based on morality, has
become associated with hedonism,
materialism and the selfish pursuit of
perceived entitlements.
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Moral Literacy
• mor·al: relating to issues of right and
wrong and to how individuals should
behave.
• lit·er·a·cy: 1. the ability to read and write
to a competent level. 2. knowledge of or
competence in a subject or area of
activity.
© Rodney H. Clarken 2009
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Education for moral literacy
should
develop each individual’s capabilities,
thoughts, feelings and actions, using the
related moral principles or virtues of
truth, love and justice.
© Rodney H. Clarken 2009
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Thoughts, Feelings and Actions:
Require Literacy in Truth, Love
and Justice
•Thoughts
Truth
•Feelings
Love
•Actions
Justice
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Thoughts, Feelings and
Actions
are the basic moral capacities of every
individual, institution and community to
transform both themselves through truth,
love and justice
can be perverted, if not properly guided by
truth, love and justice, and can be to
cause of as much evil as good.
© Rodney H. Clarken 2009
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Thoughts, feelings and actions
can be
Easy positive
Requires will and
choice as the good effort as is right, but
is attractive
unattractive
Requires moral
integrity to seek
good as wrong is
more attractive
Easy moral choice as
the wrong is
unattractive
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Happiness
Happiness is based on moral literacy which
helps us sacrifice lesser ephemeral
pleasures and values--drugs, alcohol,
sex, popularity, materialism,
entertainment and diversions– for more
difficult and less immediate paths to true
happiness.
© Rodney H. Clarken 2009
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Individuals, institutions and
communities
are interconnected and influence one
another. There is a reciprocal relationship
among them. The health of one affects
the health of the others. The more
truthful, loving and just one becomes, the
more the others are able to do the same,
leading to a better world for all.
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We have ultimate control
over our own behavior and very little control
over others. The surest way to change
others or a relationship is to change our
behavior in that relationship.
The key to change is healthy self-truth,
self-love and self-justice.
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Moral Literacy
Develops capacity to use our truth, love and
justice in creating and maintaining healthy
relationships with others and the world.
Can be assessed through our interactions,
including the degree of self-sacrifice and
service to others.
Helps us to self improve, making opportunities for
growth from the challenges of life.
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As we engage students
in the pursuit of truth, love and justice, they
will become more intrinsically motivated
to further develop their moral literacy, see
it as valuable and to make choices that
are in theirs and others best interests.
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Students will learn
that certain actions result in positive
consequences and others in negative. With
age and experience comes increased
autonomy. When we use our freedom
irresponsibly, we bring suffering on
ourselves, which leads to less autonomy.
We control our moral repsonse.
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Moral literacy helps us
helps make better choices and learn to
satisfy our needs in a legitimate,
responsible, moral and honest manner.
gain a more accurate knowledge of the
moral laws of cause and effect.
increase our true happiness and autonomy,
which in turn further motivates us to
moral action.
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Moral illiteracy leads us
into dependencies and addictions to escape the
suffering we experience.
to become victims to impulses and desires we find
difficult to resist.
to feel we cannot live or be happy without our
crutch, whether it be substances, sex or other
substitutes which rob us of the freedom and
happiness we seek.
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Moral Literacy Skills
1. delay gratification, 2. control our
impulses, 3. strive to gain a victory over
our own selves, 4. correct our views of
reality and ourselves, 5. understand the
pain and suffering we cause ourselves
and others, 6. take responsibility for our
actions and 7. fulfill our needs in a moral
manner.
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When we practice moral
literacy skills,
they affect us and environment, which will
evoke some reaction or feedback, which
can begin a cycle of further growth and
response. This is hard work and will
require self discipline and assistance
from others along the way.
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References
Many of the ideas in this presentation were
inspired by:
Hatcher, W. (1998). Love, power and
justice: The dynamics of authentic
morality. Wilmette, IL: Bahá'í Publishing
Trust.
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Authenticity, Altruism and
Autonomy
•Authentic
truth
•Altruistic
love
•Autonomous
justice
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…rectitude of conduct,
trustworthiness, and honesty are the foundation
for stability and progress; altruism should guide
all human endeavor, such that sincerity and
respect for the rights of others become an
integral part of every individual's actions;
service to humanity is the true source of
happiness, honor and meaning in life.
(Baha'i International Community, 1995 Oct, Turning Point For All Nations)
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