As technology becomes an inevitable trend in global development, moral issues must be carefully addressed, especially concerning crime prevention and education. This is particularly relevant in today’s society, where digital and AI technologies are increasingly applied in education. Since World War Ⅱ, there has been a growing focus on promoting moral practice through education, based on the belief that moral education enables individuals to develop a correct sense of morality from an early age. However, traditional approaches often emphasize teaching correct moral concepts, leading to discrepancies between moral cognition and action—for instance, individuals may recognize the importance of offering priority seat to those in need, yet fail to act accordingly in practice. In this regard, Immanuel Kant’s assertion that “beauty is the symbol of morality” offers an alternative framework through transcendental aesthetic judgment, suggesting that aesthetic experience cultivates moral perception and facilitates ethical practice. This study first employs theoretical analysis to clarify the relationship between beauty and morality and examines how beauty functions as a moral symbol. Subsequently, through a case study of students from elementary to secondary education in informal learning settings, it explores how potentially exposure to Kantian aesthetics influences moral practice. The findings of this study indicate that students who engage in aesthetic experiences internalize moral values more easily, increase prosocial behavior, and even positively influence their peers and family members. Ultimately, this study proposes a new moral education model that integrates aesthetics to foster empathy, responsibility, and social awareness, thereby contributing to societal harmony.

Authors:
Wen-Ying Tang, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Ms. Wen-Ying Tang is currently an Adjunct Instructor at National Taichung University of Education, Taiwan (R. O. C.), also a Ph.D. candidate at National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan (R. O. C.).

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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