Thursday 9/29: The Moral Matrix

Class Biz

• Voter Registration drive on Monday in class. Bring an ID and last 4 digits of your Social Security Number!(Open to 16, 17 and 18 year olds!)​
• Still foggy 3 branches of gov? Scope out this rap Skylar Schultheis found

Starter 15

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. What is one issue about which you feel really passionate? What does your stance on the issue reveal about your core values?  

Moral Foundation Statement Quiz

1. http://www.yourmorals.org/explore.php
2. Scroll down to find the quiz entitled, "Moral Foundations" (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?  Let's sum it up as a class
4. What is he saying about moral values?  How does this connect to politics? (In other words, what are the core moral values of liberals v. conservatives?  Where do they overlap? Where do they differ?)
5. Partner Analysis: For each of the issues below, discuss where liberals stand and where conservatives stand.  THEN, align those viewpoints with their moral values as we outlined in question 4 above. 
   1. Issue:  Abortion
      1. Liberal:  
      2. Conservative:  
   2. Issue:  Flag Burning
      1. Liberal:  
      2. Conservative:  
   3. Issue:  Gay Marriage
      1. Liberal:  
      2. Conservative:  

Moral Foundations Quiz- Self-reflection and openness to growth
​In order to critically examine your results in the quiz we took earlier and potentially open yourself up to growth is you see fit or at the very least be able to see things from someone else's perspective, please choose one of the following options depending on your learning style: 

​Option A: 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?

Option B: Find someone who has the same least emphasized value on your chart and same most emphasized value. This will take a bit of work.  Then, create a  skit to do the following:

1. Satirize your highest value and how it could potentially be taken to an extreme
2. Showcase the benefits of your lowest emphasized value
3. End with why you value that the LEAST-- what you don't like about it. This could be done as a satire. 

Option C:  Write a creative piece that has a character who embodies your least emphasized value.  In this short story, you should capture

1. Benefits of value 
2. Downsides of value 
3. A situation/scenario/issue in which this value would be challenged and how that makes the character feel or how the character would react.

Option D: Simply write about the LEAST emphasized value on your chart.  Writing should include:

1. Value name
2. Benefits of value (bulleted list)
3. Downsides of value (bulleted list)
4. What political issues or situations you would see that value most coming into play OR a personal experience in which you saw that value being challenged for you or others.
5. Why you value this least—what about it DON’T you like?