Abstract
Lying and deceiving are prominent topics in ethical narration. This has to do with an often absolutist stance against lying that shapes a large part of philosophical, religious, and political discourses. At the same time, lying and deceiving are topics in the field of moral education in which moral values such as honesty, sincerity, and truthfulness are propagated. Bringing these issues together, this article demonstrates how reflection about honesty and autonomy is narrated in Mats Wahl’s young adult novel I ballong över Stilla havet (In a Balloon over the Pacific Ocean). This novel shows that, while lying and deceiving undermine trust and can lead to harmful results, there are ways to fight against the moral destruction. This fight involves not only prosocial (versus mendacious) lying but also acknowledging individual motives for the lying behavior of others. Thus, while hating adults’ lies and deceptive actions as well as learning to lie himself, the male protagonist matures and takes on responsibility for his actions. We contend that this protagonist may constitute a moral exemplar that invites moral learning.
Highlights
Moral education, understood as the teaching of moral values, takes place in several institutions; for instance, in the family, kindergarten and school, and in church
Children’s Literature in Education and cultural traditions, or they are supported by religious rules prescribing the right social behavior, as in the ninth commandment of the Decalogue
A naïve way of teaching moral lessons, based on the idea that after the moral lesson children are on the path to become better humans, should be met with doubts
Summary
Understood as the teaching of moral values, takes place in several institutions; for instance, in the family, kindergarten and school, and in church. We will discuss narrative ethics and moral education with respect to the young adult novel I ballong över Stilla havet [In a Balloon over the Pacific Ocean] (1994) by the renowned Swedish author Mats Wahl. This novel has lying and deception as its thematic core. It is not a mere accident that famous literary characters such as Pinocchio (Le avventure di Pinocchio, 2008/1883, by Carlo Collodi) and Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Långstrump, 2007/1945, by Astrid Lindgren) are liars One reason for this prominence of lying and deception is that it engages children in reflecting on moral questions. It will discuss the aspect of moral exemplars in Wahl’s novel and how this may shape moral education
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