Contextualization

Theoretical Introduction

Ethics is one of the most important branches of philosophy, dedicated to understanding what is morally good or bad, right or wrong. It originates from the Greek word 'ethos', which means 'character' or 'way of being'. Ethics is not something arbitrary or relative, but a science that studies the reasons why we consider certain behaviors correct and others wrong.

Ethical philosophy can be divided into two main subsections: normative ethics and applied ethics. Normative ethics studies ethical standards themselves, the principles and rules we use to decide what is right or wrong. Applied ethics, on the other hand, focuses on specific moral dilemmas we encounter in everyday life and in areas such as law, medicine, business, war, and technology.

Another key concept is that of morality, which is a set of norms established by society or religion that guide individuals' actions. It is important to understand that we should not confuse ethics and morality, as ethics is the field of study of these issues, while morality is the daily practice of these principles.

Relevance of the Theme

Ethical reflection is essential for harmonious coexistence in society. Through it, we build rules of conduct that guide our actions and establish what we consider acceptable or unacceptable. This reflection allows us to question and challenge established norms and values, seeking a fairer and more egalitarian society.

Moreover, in our globalized and interconnected world, we are increasingly faced with complex ethical dilemmas. Issues such as inequality, injustice, corruption, information manipulation, privacy, artificial intelligence, and climate change are just a few examples of the ethical challenges we face. Therefore, it is essential that we develop the necessary skills to think critically about these issues and make informed ethical decisions.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: 'Dialoguing about Ethics'

Project Objective

The main objective is to deepen students' knowledge of different ethical theories and their applicability in everyday situations, developing critical thinking, argumentation, and collaboration skills. This project also aims to sensitize students to the importance of respecting different points of view and learning from others, even in discussions of controversial subjects.

Detailed Project Description

In groups of 3 to 5 students, each group must choose four ethical theories (for example, utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, care ethics, etc.) and explain each of them in simple terms. Then, the groups should create four scenarios of ethical dilemmas that can be found in everyday situations or in current events (for example, dilemmas related to digital privacy, social inequality, corruption, environment, etc.).

For each scenario, the groups will discuss how the different chosen ethical theories would interpret and solve the proposed dilemmas. These discussions should be recorded (audio or video) and transcribed for easier review and analysis.

Students will also be encouraged to use creativity to visually represent their discussions, whether through infographics, storyboards, freehand drawings, or using graphic design software.

Required Materials

• Computer with internet access for research
• Camera or cellphone for recordings
• Audio/video editing software (if necessary)
• Software for creating visual items (if available)

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Each group must choose four ethical theories and study about them.
3. The groups create four scenarios of ethical dilemmas.
4. In each scenario, the group discusses how each ethical theory would interpret and solve the problem. These discussions should be recorded and transcribed.
5. Students visually represent the discussions.
6. Finally, each group must present their discussions and visual representations to the rest of the class.

Project Deliverables

1. A transcription of the discussions held by the group.
2. Visual representations of the dilemmas and discussions.
3. A presentation for the class.

Based on these activities, each group should write a document, in the form of a report, containing four main topics: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography used.

1. In the Introduction, they should contextualize the importance of ethical reflection, the project's objective, and a brief description of the activities carried out.
2. In the Development, they should present the chosen ethical theories and the created dilemmas. They should detail the discussions held for each scenario, the methodology used, and the results of the discussions.
3. In the Conclusion, they should summarize the main points of the project, discuss the learnings obtained during the project, and draw conclusions about the importance of ethical reflection.
4. The Bibliography should list all the sources the students relied on to develop their work.

The expected total duration of the project is approximately 16 to 20 hours for each student, considering the time for research, discussions, creation of visual representations, and report writing.