Character Education and Virtues:
History and Contemporary Relevance
A Workshop with Prof. James Arthur
Madrid and Pamplona, 13-14 February 2023
“Character Education and Virtues: History and Contemporary Relevance” is an academic workshop with a series of seminars that aims to discuss Prof. James Arthur’s work and contribution to character education.
The seminars range from the Christian perspective on virtue ethics and character education, the history of character education and its contemporary relevance, and the impact of virtue and character education in the public sphere.
The program offers required and suggested readings that help one prepare for active participation in the seminars. Each seminar topic will be introduced by prof. James Arthur, and followed by discussion.
The seminar will be held in-person and online (live streaming). In case of live streaming you will receive the link upon registration
Program
Universidad de Navarra. Campus Pamplona
10:30-12:00 h. Seminar 1 (first part).
"Christian Virtue Ethics and Character Education". Room 30. Central Building.
Moderator: José María Torralba. Civic Humanism Center, University of Navarra.
12:00-12:15 h. Coffee Break
12:15-13:45 h. Seminar 1 (second part).
"Christian Virtue Ethics and Character Education". Room 30. Central Building.
Moderator: Emma Cohen de Lara. Civic Humanism Center, University of Navarra.
Universidad de Navarra. Campus Madrid
10:00-11:30 h. Seminar 2 (first part).
"Historical Approaches to Character Education and Contemporary Debates". Room "Aula Magna". University of Navarra. Madrid Campus.
Moderator: Vianney Domingo. Civic Humanism Center, University of Navarra.
11:30-12:00 h. Coffee Break
12:00-13:30 h. Seminar 2 (second part).
"Historical Approaches to Character Education and Contemporary Debates". Room "Aula Magna". University of Navarra. Madrid Campus.
Moderator: Vianney Domingo. Civic Humanism Center, University of Navarra.
13:30 h. Lunch
15:00 h. Transfer to Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
16:00-18:00 h. Seminar 3.
"Virtues and Character in the Public Sphere". Room "Salón de Grados". Faculty of Education. Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Moderator: Juan Luis Fuentes, Facultad de Educación. Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Seminars
Seminar 1
Christian virtue Ethics and Character Education. This seminar will explore the connection between Christian character education and virtue ethics. From a Christian perspective, the moral life cannot be understood separately from certain theological questions. Christian virtue ethics is built on a strong integration of theology and philosophy. This workshop will examine the relationship between human nature, human flourishing, and the formation of the person as understood in Christian anthropology. Questions arise such as: What is distinctive about Christian character education? What is the relationship between Christian anthropology and Aristotelian virtue ethics?
Upon registration you will receive access to the readings.
→ “Christian anthropology and Aristotle's character ethics”. In Arthur, J., A Christian Education in the Virtues. Routledge, London, 2021. (Chapter 2: pp. 23-46)
→ “Integral human development and Christian character education”. In Arthur, J., A Christian Education in the Virtues. Routledge, London, 2021. (Chapter 5: pp. 113-137)
→ "Character formation and theological challenges”. In Arthur, J., A Christian Education in the Virtues. Routledge, London, 2021. (Chapter 1: pp. 1-22)
→ “A theological framework for character formation”. In Arthur, J., A Christian Education in the Virtues. Routledge, London, 2021. (Chapter 6: pp. 138-153)
Seminar 2
Historical Approaches to Character Education and Contemporary Debates. The seminar will discuss how different historical and foundational questions and perspectives on character have shaped our present considerations of character development and education. Some issues and current concerns that emerge in contemporary debates on character development and education will be addressed. These questions would range from the language of character, to its moral backdrop and connection to a normative understanding of human nature, and the schooling of character, among others.
Upon registration you will receive access to the readings.
→ “An Historical Perspective on Character Formation”. In Arthur, J., Education with Character. The Moral Economy of Schooling. Routledge, London, 2003. (Chapter 2: pp. 10-25)
→ “Theories of Character Development”. In Arthur, J., Education with Character. The Moral Economy of Schooling. Routledge, London, 2003. (Chapter 5: 58-73)
→ “Definitions and models of character”. In Arthur, J., The Formation of Character in Education. From Aristotle to the 21st Century. Routledge, London, 2020. (Chapter 1: pp. 8-36)
→ Arthur, J. and Carr, D. (2013). “Character in Learning for Life. A Virtue-Ethical Rationale for Recent Research on Moral and Values Education”, Journal of Beliefs & Values 34 (1), pp. 26–35
→ “20th-century influences on character formation”. In Arthur, J., The Formation of Character in Education. From Aristotle to the 21st Century. Routledge, London, 2020. (Chapter 8: pp. 125-136)
Seminar 3
Virtues and Character in the Public Sphere. This last seminar will focus on the social impact of virtue ethics and character education, concerning issues such as the formation of “citizens of character” and the prominent role and responsibility of higher education in the education of future civic, political, and economic leaders. The workshop will also discuss how character education is able to impact education policies and offer insight into the salient achievements of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.
Upon registration you will receive access to the readings.
→ “Student character in the British University”. In Arthur, J. and Bohlin, K. E. Citizenship and Higher Education. The Role of Universities in Higher Communities and Society. Routledge, London, 2005, pp. 6-24
→ Arthur, J. and Harrison, T. (2012). “Exploring Good Character and Citizenship in England”. Asia Pacific Journal of Education 32 (4), pp. 489-497
→ “Case Study: The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues: Bridging research and Policy". In Policy Entrepreneurship in Education: Engagement, Influence and Impact, Routledge, 2018
→ Arthur, J. (2005). “The Re-emergence of Character Education in British Education Policy”, British Journal of Educational Studies 53 (3), pp. 239–254
→ “The Politics of Character”. In Arthur, J., Education with Character. The Moral Economy of Schooling. Routledge, London, 2003. (Chapter 6: pp. 74-86)
→ “Introduction”. In Arthur, J. and Bohlin, K. E. Citizenship and Higher Education. The Role of Universities in Higher Communities and Society. Routledge, London, 2005, pp. 1-5
→ Davies, I., Arthur, J., Harrison, T. and Watson, H. (2008). “Developing a Characterisation of Citizenship Education. Issues Arising from Work Undertaken in a Higher Education Network”. The Curriculum Journal 19 (2), pp. 119–132
→ “Contemporary policies and themes”. In Arthur, J., The Formation of Character in Education. From Aristotle to the 21st Century. Routledge, London, 2020. (Chapter 9: pp. 139-159)
James Arthur
James Arthur
Director of the The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues
University of Birmingham
James Arthur is Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues of the University of Birmingham. He is also Chair of the Society for Educational Studies, and was Head of the School of Education 2010-2015 and Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor 2015-2019 at the University. He was previously Editor of the British Journal of Educational Studies for ten years and holds numerous honorary titles in the academy, including Honorary Professor of the University of Glasgow and Honorary Research Fellow in the University of Oxford. James was made an Officer of the British Empire by the Queen in 2018.
He has written widely on the relationship between theory and practice in education, particularly the links between character, virtues, citizenship, religion and education. James established the Jubilee Centre in 2012, and the Centre has grown in size, scope, and impact since its launch at the House of Lords in May 2012.
Contact
Vianney Domingo
vianneydomingo@unav.es
José María Torralba
jmtorralba@unav.es
Emma Cohen de Lara
ecohend@unav.es
University of Navarra. Pamplona
Campus Pamplona
Campus Universitario 31009 Pamplona
University of Navarra.
Madrid Campus.
Calle Marquesado de Sta. Marta, 3 28027 Madrid Spain
Facultad de Educación.
Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Rector Royo Villanova s/n. Ciudad Universitaria 28040 Madrid