Challenging the concept of ethical literacy for sustainable development (ESD): Storytelling as a method within sustainability didactics

• Challenging the concept of ethical literacy in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): storytelling as a method within sustainability didactics Introduction: Ethical literacy seems, within ESD, to be used in various ways, some more general, others morally specific, pressing individuals´ responsibility. The aim of this paper is to analyze the presuppositions for developing narrative methods which focus the vision of a good society without compromising with individual integrity. Objectives: ESD highlights teaching and learning related to environmental, economic and social dimensions where value issues and ethics are discussed in relation to global challenges of various kinds. Often, however, the ethical themes seem to be polarized between two extremes: either holistic expressions in general terms of “responsibility”, or morally pressing and pushing expressions of responsibility of individuals as citizens of the society - and the world. In the former case, no one specific person seems to be addressed, in the second each one of us is called for action. In neither case the concept of sustainability is problematized with regard to the variation of interpretations that express different agendas. Both extremes seem further to presuppose that ethics primarily has to do with moral judgments of right and wrong, rather than elaborating the concept of a good society and a good world. Moreover, while, according to the first extreme, no individual person seems to be called to do anything specific with regard to the striving for a socially sustainable world, the second seems to express demands of individuals´ action of competence and responsibility for making the world a better place for humans generally. Are there possibilities for the development of ESD which highlight global challenges with a focus on justice and equity without either, as within post-political romanticism, pretending that social sustainability is a non-controversial ethical goal, or, as within liberal individualistic approaches, claiming that no one may escape from the demand of action competence which is claimed to shape the way to make social sustainability come true? Methods: This paper examines critically and constructively, with reference to narrative theory, as well as to communitarian approaches, storytelling as one method to inspire young people to reflect upon what a good society and a good world may be, to catch sight of visions of a sustainable world and of challenges which exist between “now” and “then” – a method that, at the same time, may preserve respect for individuals´ integrity. Results: The examination highlights narrative structures and ethically relevant contents which may contribute to new strategies for the development of holistic and integrative narrative methods, forming approaches for sustainability didactics. Conclusion: There is a need for further research regarding the analysis of the frequent references of "ethics" and "ethical dimensions" within ESD-related contexts, and one highly relevant and constructive area for this research concerns narrative methods related to sustainability didactics.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Filosofi, etik och religion -- Etik (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Philosophy, Ethics and Religion -- Ethics (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Didaktik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Didactics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

ESD

Ethics

Literacy

story telling

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)