Narrative and truth in a world of alternative facts: The moral challenge for education

ABSTRACT

This article explores the role of educators in our current environment, where truth and truthfulness must fight their corner in a world of ‘alternative facts’. The article opens with a review of the effects of the 24/7 news cycle on our sense of the overall well-being of the world, then discusses the meaning of moral identity and questions whether this is something which can be taught, and moves to a consideration of the role of moral mentors. The paper concludes by arguing that the key challenge for moral education in the years ahead is that of critically training our students to see what is before them, to engage fully with their hearts and minds, and to be sensitive to what is absent – the interplay between presence and absence being the key to the creative functioning of the imagination.

KEYWORDS:

• Political narratives
• imagination
• moral mentors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Molly Andrews

Molly Andrews is Professor of Political Psychology, and Co-director of the Centre for Narrative Research at the University of East London and the Jane and Aatos Professor at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies 2019–2020.