Reflection and synthesis: How moral agents learn and moral cultures evolve

Joanna M Burch-Brown*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
262 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

One aim of moral education is to help society progress from morally imperfect conventions towards more perfect ones. According to a popular view, reflecting judgment is the vehicle of this progress. In this paper, I argue that although reflection is important, it is not enough; moral development also requires practical synthesis. Moral development takes place by securing new connections – conceptual, affective, volitional, behavioural – that bring thoughts, feelings, motivations and actions into alignment with higher values, to instantiate respect for all who are ends in themselves. Constructing parallels from Kant’s theoretical philosophy, I identify three kinds of synthesis that are central to moral practice. If I am right, then a key task for moral education is to support the development of these capacities of practical synthesis.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)935-948
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Philosophy of Education
Volume55
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
I am very grateful to David Bakhurst and Martin Sticker for their gracious support and guidance, and to two anonymous referees for exceptionally generous and insightful comments. This paper has benefited from conversations with many colleagues over a number of years, with particular thanks to Jonathan Webber, Christopher Bennett, Garrath Williams, Jens Timmermann, Alfred Archer, Roger Crisp, Alix Cohen, Michael Stuart, Barbara Herman, Thomas Hill, Seiriol Morgan, Jason Konek, Samir Okasha, Alexander Bird, Steve Mallinson, colleagues at University of Bristol, Frank Burch‐Brown, Carol Burch‐Brown, Ann Kilkelly, Sean Baker, Katie Baker, and William Baker. Funding for this paper has been provided by a UKRI Citizen Science grant BB/V013378/1.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Philosophy of Education published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain

Research Groups and Themes

  • Centre for Black Humanities

Keywords

  • Kantian moral philosophy
  • practical reason
  • culture
  • norms
  • judgment
  • creativity

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