Cultivating Moral Reasoning in Aspiring Leaders

Virtue literacy has been defined as perceiving, knowing, and understanding virtue language and concepts needed to make reasoned judgements. While cultivating each of these components can lead to mastery of a particular virtue, the foundation must first be laid through the development of a common virtue vocabulary and opportunities to translate that knowledge into action.

The first aim of this grant supported research was to determine if candidates participating in character & virtue-based interventions would demonstrate advancements in the development of virtue literacy in the initial course and maintain or continue to demonstrate growth at the end of a two-year program. Writing samples gathered prior to the start of the educational leadership program, at the conclusion of the first course, and at the end of program provided data on the development of virtue literacy in aspiring leaders.

Spelman, M. (2025). Cultivating virtue literacy in postgraduates: A content analysis of writing samples. International Journal of Ethics Education.

When virtues are viewed through a Neo-Aristotelian lens, they are interconnected and orchestrated by the meta-virtue of practical wisdom. A valuable method for developing moral decision-making processes and practical wisdom may be through sustained practice with authentic ethical dilemmas. Practicing with and responding to authentic ethical dilemmas through a structured reflective framework allows candidates to engage in collective phronesis, make sense of complexity, and choose an intelligent and virtuous response to ethical dilemmas.

The second aim of this research proposal was to determine if candidates exploring education-based dilemmas using an Ethical Dilemma Reflection Framework would demonstrate advancements in the development of moral reasoning in the initial course and maintain or continue to continue to demonstrate growth at the end of a two-year program. The Defining Issues Test administered prior to the start of the educational leadership program, at the conclusion of the first course, and at the conclusion of the capstone course provided data on the development of moral reasoning in aspiring leaders.

Two pending publications feature my unique Ethical Dilemma Reflection Framework that was first introduced in a 2023 Jubilee Centre report Teaching Character: A Practical Guide.