Abstract
People have long recognized thatknowing and doing are vastly different. Aperson might be skilled in abstract moralreasoning and do it brilliantly in a classroomsetting but act despicably in everyday matters. Instructing students in ethical principles andmoral reasoning skills is one thing. Increasing their desires to act ethically andto behave in admirable ways is something else. This paper advocates an ancient method of moraleducation that contemporary methods overshadow: the telling of stories. Examples of peopleacting ethically, behaving heroically in a seaof temptations, show young minds what idealslook like in practice and encourage theselearners to act admirably themselves. Anecdotes of moral truths in action appeal tothe mind and the heart, instructing theintellect and increasing the desire to emulatewhat civilization has come to honor as rightand good.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Coles, R.: 1987, 'Preface', Character Development in Schools and Beyond.
Day, J. M.: 1991, 'The Moral Audience: On the Narrative Mediation of Moral Judgment and Moral Action', in Narrative and Storytelling: Implications for Understanding Moral Development, Number 54, Winter.
Hennessy, T. C.: 1987, 'The Role of Religion in Character Development', in Character Development in Schools and Beyond.
Hosmer, LaRue T.: 2000, 'Standard Format for the Case Analysis of Moral Problems', Teaching Business Ethics 4, 169-180.
Johnson, H. C. Jr.: 1987, 'Society, Culture and Character Development', in Character Development in Schools and Beyond.
Kilpatrick, W., Gregory and S. M. Wolfe: 1994, Books that Build Character: A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories, Touchstone Simon & Schuster, New York.
Kilpatrick, W. K.: 1992, 'Moral Character: Story-Telling and Virtue', in Philosophical Foundations for Moral education and Character Development: An Integrated Theory of Moral Development.
Kilpatrick, W. K.: 1983, Psychological Seduction: The Failure of Modern Psychology, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN.
Knowles, R. T. and G. F. McLean (eds.): 1992, Philosophical Foundations for Moral education and Character Development: An Integrated Theory of Moral Development, The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, Washington, D.C.
MacIntyre, A.: 1981, After Virtue, University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, IN.
McLean, G. F. and F. E. Ellrod (eds.): 1992, Philosophical Foundations for Moral education and Character Development: Act and Agent, The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, Washington, D.C.
Meilaender, G. C.: 1984, The Theory and Practice of Virtue, University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, IN.
Ryan, K. and G. F. McLean: 1987, Character Development in Schools and Beyond, Praeger, New York.
Ryan, K. and T. Lickona: 1987, 'Character Development: The Challenge and the Model', in Character Development in Schools and Beyond.
Samay, S. A.: 1992, 'Affectivity: The Power Base of Moral Behavior', in Philosophical Foundations for Moral education and Character Development: Act and Agent.
Sullivan, E. V.: 1987, 'Television as a Moral Educator', in Character Development in Schools and Beyond.
Tappan, M. B. and M. J. Packer (eds.): 1991, Narrative and Storytelling: Implications for Understanding Moral Development, Number 54, Winter 1991, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
Van Hooft, S.: 2001, 'Overcoming Principles: Dialog in Business Ethics', Teaching Business Ethics 5, 89-106.
Vitz, P. C.: 1990, 'The Uses of Stories inMoral Development: New Psychological Reasons for an Old Education Method', American Psychologist, June, pp. 709-720.
Watson, C. E.: 1991, Managing with Integrity: Insights from America's CEOs, Praeger, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Watson, C.E. Using Stories to Teach Business Ethics – Developing Character through Examples of Admirable Actions. Teaching Business Ethics 7, 93–105 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022660405619
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022660405619