Everyone thinks. Developing intellectual rigour is critical for healthy decision-making and quality of life. Thinking left on its own can become "distorted, biased, partial, uninformed and prejudiced"(Michael Scriven and Richard Paul for the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking Instruction). "Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively conceptualising, applying, analysing, synthesising, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or communication as a guide to belief and action." Identifying frameworks for ethical thinking and considering a broad spectrum of themes and topics for the application of ethical decision-making will equip students with the process and skills involved in rationally deciding what to do and what to believe.
Making a difference: ethical decision-making Band D Year 9 CL 5.1, CL 5.3, CW 5.3 UNIT FOCUS ON DEVELOPING INTELLECTUAL RIGOUR Students will develop a theoretical understanding of ethics under the overall theme of finding well-designed components for constructing an ethical compass. The ethical framework is applied in two broad areas under the theme of doing justice – to the created world and those who suffer. An important component of the unit is the resources to be found within the Christian tradition, in particular sacred texts. The unit lays a foundation for the inquiry into similar themes in future Christian Studies but more importantly it is to foster personal ethical decision-making at year 9 by enabling students to explore being the person you want to be both as individuals and in their relationships.
Author: Neal Nuske
Issue date: 17 Oct 2007