A Classroom Exercise Practicing Moral Intent, Judgment and Behavior

Abstract

This article presents a two-part classroom exercise that requires students first to identify their source of moral authority, and second to use that moral authority to make a moral judgment, establish moral intent, and engage in moral behavior [Jones 1991]. First, students identify their moral authority, or how they determine the morality of an action. Second, students are given an ethical scenario and asked to respond, relying on their source of authority. Thus, students are given practice in employing moral authority to respond to an ethical dilemma and engage in moral behavior.