The Moral Matrix

Starter 16

1. How similar or different do you think liberals and conservatives are in terms of their morality?  Where are the key differences?  Where do they overlap?
2. Think of an issue you feel really strongly about.  What do you think of people who take the opposite position?

Moral Foundation Statement Quiz

1. http://www.yourmorals.org/explore.php
2. Take the MORAL FOUNDATIONS QUIZ here (you’ll need to register here to be able to take the quiz).
3. When you’re done, copy the graph you get into a word document or google doc.  You’ll need these results later!
4. Okay, now let’s find out what these results mean.

Haidt:  Moral Matrix Setup

1. This guy is speaking to an audience of liberals, so you’ll notice that his rhetoric is pitched to them.
2. HOWEVER…don’t let that fool you.  His underlying point is actually criticizing the group for being so monolithic.  Remember, he’s playing to an audience here.  That doesn’t mean his underlying points are invalid.
3. Tasteless joke about Applebees.  Audience has money, is apparently a little snobby about where they eat (point out class issues)

Moral Matrix Sequence

1. Watch TED Talk
2. Take notes on the 3 most interesting points he makes
3. What is the Moral Matrix?  Sum it up with the class.
4. What is he saying about moral values?  How does this connect to politics?
   1. Harm/care and Fairness/Reciprocity are shared.  Slight differences, but liberals and conservatives all value these things.
   2. Other 3 are where real differences exist (In group loyalty, Purity, Authority/respect).
   3. We ALL use all of them, but for liberals, the first two tend to carry much higher weight.
5. Class Analysis of three issues
   1. Issue:  Abortion
      
   2. Issue:  Flag Burning
      
   3. Issue:  Gay Marriage

Moral Matrix Poster

1. Make poster for LEAST emphasized value on your chart.  Poster should include:
   1. Value name
   2. Benefits of value (bulleted list)
   3. Downsides of value (bulleted list)
   4. Symbol or illustration that represents the value
   5. Why you value this least—what about it DON’T you like?

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