The aim of the lesson is to address one of the tree main questions / topics set in the national curricula for philosophy: "What can I do?". The lesson offers threefold approach to this question: 1) it opens an argumentative discussion on freedom and autonomy as conditions for any ethical action, 2) its establishes the (meta)theoretical connections between autonomy and ethical action and 3) it equip students with basic Kantian conceptual apparatus necessary for understanding deontological ethical theories.
Lesson plan
Pinocchio or Introduction to Ethics
Lesson introduces students to the field of ethics and Kantian theoretical perspective through moderated discussion on autonomy/freedom and innovative reading/interpretation of Pinocchio (original movie from 1940) with additional interpretation of the three metamorphoses by Nietzsche.
| Author / creator | Curator | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Vida Otič | Miha Andrič | 01/2019 |
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Aims and objectives
Content
Lesson is divided into three parts: 1) moderated discussion on autonomy/freedom through detailed analysis and innovative interpretation of Pinocchio (1940, movie), 2) moderated reading of excerpts from Critique of Practical reason (Kant) used for explanation of Kantian fundamental moral law/ethical principle - the categorical imperative and 3) presentation of the thesis that the character development in Pinocchio as homological to the "three metamorphoses" in Nietzsche presents the subjectivation of Kantian ethical individual as someone who accepts the moral duty, internalise the moral law/consciousness and prioritise responsibility to the Other over their own pleasures.
Learning activities
During the lessons students were engaged in 1) moderated discussion, 2) moderated movie excerpts analysis, 3) moderated discusion analysis of primary source philosophy text and 4) frontal lecture on new philosophical concepts.
Materials and resources
Materials used in the lesson are:
1) excepts from Kritika praktičnega uma (Analecta, Ljubljana, 2003)
2) handouts with primary source text and interpretation of three metamorphoses (Nietzsche)
3) Pinocchio, 1940, full movie (available on youtube)
Pinocchio, 1940 (video / youtube)
Location
High School Gimnazija Ptuj, Ptuj, Slovenia.
Time
January 2017 (2 hours)
Assessment
There is no specific assessment linked to the lesson. Internal assesment of gain knowledge usually consists of: oral testing, short argumentative essays or extended essays.
Teacher role
During the lesson teacher mainly serves as a facilitator of a discussion and intervenes with definitions and introductions of new philosophical concepts.
Grouping / classroom
The lesson can be implemented in the classroom as a group activity (10-30 students). Optimal size of the group is 15 students. Student works as a group, but get some individual time to read primary source text and make notes before they continued with the discussion.
Rationale
The rationale behind such lesson is to offer students interactive, interdisciplinary and cross-curricular activity that would engage them into the analysis of 1) Kantian approach to the question of foundations of morals, 2) (meta)theoretical connections between autonomy and field of ethics and 3) deontological responses to the consequentialist approaches.