Moral Taste and Moral Education – An Interview Study

In recent research on moral psychology, the human consciousness has been compared to a tongue, with different taste buds, which together can cause variety of sensations. According this theory, people in general have preparedness react situations, provide opportunities or pose threats social context. Moral psychologist, Jonathan Haidt, described these receptors as pairs, for example: care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/ betrayal, authority/subversion and sanctity/degradation. Which foundations individual develops depends, largely, cultural Hence, choices teachers make issues address what way contribute learning environment that influences their pupils’ outlook. The purpose study is investigate intuitions preferences want endorse cultivate pedagogical practices. Against background, number qualitative interviews were conducted experienced non-confessional subject religious education (RE), who particular responsibility Swedish school system. based modified version Foundations Questionnaire, was deliberately developed determine participants’ taste, participants asked elaborate answers. results indicate tended favour harm fairness over loyalty, authority sanctity. As one puts it: “many my examples relate weak vulnerable ones are denied rights society… content curriculum but also mirror own preferences”. paper we analyse RE critically discuss consequences theory education. Keywords: education, ethics