Contextualization

Morality is one of the pillars that sustain society, acting on individual behaviors and decisions, as well as in the construction of laws and norms. It has its origins in philosophy, religion, culture, and psychology, being molded by diverse forces over time. In several cultures, morality is considered the base for the constitution of a fair and harmonious society.

Morality can be understood as a set of rules that govern human behavior within a society, establishing what is considered right or wrong, good or bad. Its construction is a complex process that involves the interaction between individuals and the social, cultural, and historical environment in which they are inserted - fields of study of Sociology, another discipline that will be approached in this project.

Importance of Morality

Understanding the construction of morality is essential for us to understand the bases of our own actions, as well as those of others. Morality guides our choices and attitudes, influences us as citizens, which is why its understanding is fundamental for the formation of young people who are conscious and active in society.

Moreover, the construction of morality has direct implications in several areas of life in society (politics, economy, international relations, etc.). Understanding how morality is formed is a way of understanding the world around us and how people and societies behave, act, and interact.

Practical Activity: "Building Morals"

Objective of the Project

The objective is for students to critically and reflectively investigate the origin and evolution of morality in different cultures and historical contexts, relating it to sociocultural and psychological factors. The proposal is to analyze how these elements interfere in the formation of the moral subject in its relation to ethics and the common good.

Detailed Description of the Project

The students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people and each group will be assigned a historical period and a specific culture to study. Each group must investigate morality in the assigned culture and period, explore its origins, development, and relation with sociocultural factors. Later, they should compare it with contemporary morality in our society, observing similarities, differences, and evolutions.

Necessary Materials

1. Books and academic articles related to the theme.
2. Access to the Internet for complementary research.
3. Material for presentations (Slides, posters, etc.)

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Each group will select a historical period and a specific culture for investigation.
2. Within the selected context, the students must research about:
   • Main moral aspects of the culture and period of study.
   • Sociocultural factors that influenced the formation and development of these moralities.
   • The influence of morality in the decision-making and conduct of individuals.
3. After the research, the students must build a presentation to share their findings with the class, also highlighting comparisons with contemporary morality.
4. During the presentation, the other groups can ask questions or make comments, allowing for a healthy and constructive debate.
5. Finally, each group will write a detailed report about their findings.

Project Deliveries

In the end, each group must be able to deliver the following parts:

1. Written Report: This document must follow the format of Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography, and must detail all the phases of the project, from the choice of the society and historical period to the conclusions drawn about the moral behavior of that society, its development, and the respective comparison with contemporary morality.

   • Introduction: In this section, the students must contextualize the society and the historical period they chose, explaining why they were chosen and their relevance in the study of morality.

   • Development: Here the students must detail their findings. They must mention the main characteristics of the morality of the chosen society, how it developed, and which sociocultural factors influenced this morality. They must also indicate how it related to ethics and the common good in that context.

   • Conclusion: The students must make a comparative analysis of the morality of the chosen society with contemporary morality. What changed? What remained? Which aspects of the morality of that time are present in the morality of today? From these reflections, which learnings can be drawn?

   • Bibliography: All the sources used for the construction of the project must be listed in this section.

2. Presentation: Each group must present their findings to the class in a presentation of maximum 30 minutes.

3. Participation in the debate: Each group must actively participate in the debate that takes place at the end of each presentation, asking questions and bringing constructive comments.

With the realization and conclusion of this project, the students must have improved their technical and socioemotional skills, such as critical analysis, collaboration, communicability, time management, and creative thinking.