The moral roots of liberals and conservatives - Jonathan Haidt
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TED Talk
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Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies the five moral values that form the basis of our political choices, whether we're left, right, or center. In this eye-opening talk, he pinpoints the moral values that liberals and conservatives tend to honor most. Jonathan Haidt studies how -- and why -- we evolved to be moral. By understanding more about our moral roots, his hope is that we can learn to be civil and open-minded.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Take the Moral Foundations Questionnaire that Haidt and his colleagues have posted at http://www.yourmorals.org. Find a way to anonymously aggregate and analyze the results with your classmates. Together, discuss the following:Do you think that the survey questions lead to a thorough and accurate assessment of an individual’s morality? Are there questions you would add or revise? Do you think that your class’ results are representative of the larger community in which you live? Why or why not?When they developed their Moral Foundations Theory, Haidt and his colleagues initially identified five moral foundations. Subsequently, they invited people to nominate other dimensions that might be added. Explore some of the suggestions at http://faculty.virginia.edu/haidtlab/mft/index.php?t=challenges. Which do you think are particularly compelling? What would you add, if anything, to Haidt’s initial list of five?Jonathan Haidt: Moral Foundations Theory http://faculty.virginia.edu/haidtlab/mft/index.php?t=homeThe Utne Reader: Liberals aren’t un-American. Conservatives aren’t ignorant. (Sept-Oct 2009) http://www.utne.com/Politics/Liberals-Arent-Un-American-Conservatives-Arent-Ignorant.aspxPsychology Today:Jonathan Haidt’s Moral-Political Psychology (01/01/2012) http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/theory-knowledge/201201/jonathan-haidts-moral-political-psychologyThe Chronicle of Higher Education: Jonathan Haidt decodes the tribal psychology of politics (01/29/2012) http://chronicle.com/article/Jonathan-Haidt-Decodes-the/130453/
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- Speaker Jonathan Haidt
