Domain Theory~Danielle Dempsey

After reading various of my classmates responses, as well as pondering my own thoughts, I began to think about how in class we questioned whether the moral domain and the social domain were beginning to mesh together, particularly within the educatinal setting. Many of you in your blogs believed that they were separate domains. Morality refers to issues in terms of human welfare and justice and social convention conveys to children what society considers acceptable or unacceptable, in terms of behaviors and how we treat others. While I agree that there is a difference between morality and social convention, I cannot help but think of how these concepts are being integrated when being "taught" to children throughout their education.

In our textbook, Nice Is Not Enough, by Larry Nucci, he discusses the idea of domain overlap. Domain overlap is defined as "when social conventions regulating social organizations are in harmony or in conflict with issues of fairness" (Nucci, 2009). In chapter 2 Nucci gives an example of domain overlap. For instance, when you buy movie tickets, you stand in line. If someone "cuts" you, this is understood as not only breaking the social convention of "taking turns" or "waiting your turn" but it also interrupts the moral function of "distributive justice" (Nucci, 2009). In a school setting, this can be understood in a similar way. We teach children that they should do things such as take turns, share, raise their hands, etc. because these fundamental concepts provide children with a basic understanding of what society will expect of them when they are adults functioning in the world. It would be unacceptable for someone to cut in the grocery store line or speak over you in a meeting. While this has probably happened to all of us at one time or another, think about your reaction when it did happen. You might have felt angry, had hurt feelings, or felt as if your human rights were being ignored. This is where the morality of it comes into play. So not only is it socially unacceptable, but it also becomes immoral because you are disrupting the "distributive justice" that all human beings deserve. I may be taking this to an extreme level because when I think of moral issues, I think of not stealing from others or treating everyone equally. But think about it. If someone cuts you off in traffic, do you not feel unequal or as if something is being stolen from you? Your very existence on the road is being ignored! Ok, I am taking this to an extreme level, but I guess I am just trying to make the point that morals and social conventions can go hand in hand. And I think they do. I think the best way adults, especially those involved within the educational field, know how to teach morals is by relating them through some kind of social convention. Then eventually it is up to the child to decide what they will make a part of their personal domain.

And Smitty and Julie both brought up great points. I thought Julie's discussion of distributive justice in relation to social convention was very important and I tried to use it in my argument here. And Smitty, your idea of being born with morals reminded me of the imfamous question. Which came first the chicken or the egg? The nature vs. nurture debate. Are we innately gifted with these behaviors or ideas, or are we taught them through our environment. While I can always see both sides, because I could never think that it was one or the other (I believe nature and nurture work collaboratively), I think as babies in the womb we are already being affected by our environment. Now I AM getting off topic, so I will end it here! : )