Moral Philosophy and Critical Theory

Morality as defined by Pojman is, "certain customs, precepts, and practices of people and cultures."  This implies that morality is universal.  Morality brings some order to our society.  There should be a generally understood way of behavior.  I agree that as a society we need these principles that guide us.  The general purposes of morality are to create a society that promote humanity, resolve conflicts in just and orderly ways, keep order within society, and to be the conscience of society.  As an educator I believe I have a responsiblity  to be an example of what a moral person is.  I believe the days of learning a moral code at home, for many of my students, may be non-existent.  I may be the only adult in their lives that doesn't yell at them, doesn't ignore them, doesn't abuse them either mentally, physically, or emotionally.  I want and should treat all of my students as well as my colleagues with respect and dignity.  I should also be aware that what I do in my private life could be judged, so I need to think about how my actions would effect my students.  I am an educator and should stand for what is right and good in our society.  I don't mean to imply that as an educator I need to be perfect-- I am human, but I do think there is a responsibility to think more critically about my actions.  Are my actions benefitting others or harming them?

Critical theory is a set of principles that looks at an issue from the perspective of not accepting the generally understood reality or historical reality of an idea or phenomena.  Critical theorists would look at new ways of solving social problems.  The idea is to generate conversations about generally accepted phenomena.  In looking at the issue of educational technology, a critical theorist would not accept the idea that just because you use a computer in instruction you are a better teacher.  Or ask a school district why it should spend all that money on a computer lab?  I think it is a helpful theory in looking at educational technology because if we are to be moral people we should be looking for ways to help society better understand the human condition.  Not develop into a society of that has an even greater divide between the haves and have nots.  Technology has the potential to encourage this elitism.    The article makes a convincing argument in warning us about this possibility.  Critical theory supports the idea of questioning the uses of educational technology for the advancement of understanding among humans.