Ethical self-discovery and deliberation: Towards a teaching model of ethics under the competences model

Abstract

This article analyzes a teaching experience in the domain of ethics under the competences model in a higher education institution in Talca, Chile. This experience focuses on the abilities required by civic dialogue as a key element for ethical reflection. Taking the dialogical- procedural model of ethics as a base, we propose a teaching methodology that emphasizes students’ ethical self-discovery and the goal of reaching agreement by consensus. According to our data, two abilities are crucial for these processes: to negotiate values with others and to display empathy. Both, however, seem to be underdeveloped. We argue that this finding poses an important challenge to both civic education and the strengthening of democracy.