Issues of social, economic, and environmental justice are not morally neutral. At your field placement site, you will certainly face social policy issues around social, economic, and environmental justice that raise questions for you personally and professionally. Social policy legislation are attempts to shape, impose, or respond with moral values or frameworks—ideas of what is right or wrong, good or bad, fair or unfair—to issues in society or in response to other countries, events, or circumstances.
The questions to ask before implementing any policy are, “What is the goal?” and “What result do we hope to achieve?” We must then evaluate these desired results against an ethical framework to determine what means justify the end. Does this policy fit within a broader moral framework, or will it undermine other important values? Is this area of policy more or less important than other desired moral outcomes? Does it undermine or support the higher good we hope to achieve in other areas? These are difficult questions to answer, but you must consider them when developing policies.
In this workshop, you will select and analyze policies from a menu of current social policy issues that might affect your field placement work. All ideas and policies have consequences, and they must be evaluated in context before implementation. This workshop provides you an opportunity to approach a current social policy issue from the workshop’s framework of care and social justice, informed by your moral or spiritual value system.
Video: Jonathan Haidt: The Moral Roots of Liberals and Conservatives https://youtu.be/vs41JrnGaxc
• Quiz: Moral Foundations Questionnaire -MY QUIZ IS IN THE FILES
Background Information
The assigned video discusses several ethical elements that might shape a social worker’s decision making. The speaker explains that his worldview is one grounded in psychology and science rather than in a spiritual worldview that values God as a primary source of truth. Several of the foundations of morality presented in the video include care, reciprocity, loyalty, respect, and sanctity.
Social workers aim to do good in many circumstances while balancing how best to implement change for individuals, communities, and societies. A Christian worldview seeks to balance social justice, fairness, and truth within a spiritual framework. Social workers who are Christians or other people of faith should decide which elements or combination of elements are most important when making decisions about themselves, clients, and social policies.
Watch the TED Talk video, “Jonathan Haidt: The Moral Roots of Liberals and Conservatives.” LINK TO https://youtu.be/vs41JrnGaxc
- Complete the "Moral Foundations Questionnaire" quiz on Your Morals.org website.-DONE SEE FILES
- Using the framework outlined in the video, pick one of the hot-button issues listed below:
a. Same-sex marriages
b. Right to abortions
c. Equal bathroom access for people who identity as transgender
d. Police brutality toward African Americans
e. Pathways to citizenship for immigrants without legal status
f. An issue of your choice, if confirmed by your instructor for this assignment - In a 2 page essay, respond to the following prompts:
a. Using the five foundations of morality explained in the video, discuss which two elements you would choose as your top reasons for taking the policy position you do on your chosen issue and why.
b. Discuss how these two elements are consistent with your worldview and faith and how you would support them as such.
c. The Bible supports all of the ideas mentioned in the video but emphasizes authority/respect and purity/sanctity as the top moral priorities and lenses for decision making. The Bible reminds us that God is our authority and, as author of all creation, He must be our starting place. This is seen in the Old Testament with the first of the Ten Commandments, which says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” and in the New Testament with Jesus, who says “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, this is the first and greatest commandment.”
i. Discuss the impact on your chosen issue if you start with authority/respect or purity/sanctity as the top moral priority for decision making versus using harm/care as the top priority. Compare and contrast the differences in approaching this issue based on these differing priorities.
ii. Discuss how the policy recommendations would be similar or different based on the differences in priorities.
Sample Solution