Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Phd. Student in Philosophy of Education, Departmant of Education, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2
Associate Professor, Educational Sciences Department, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Research Institute of Ethics and Education, Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran
10.30471/edu.2025.10746.2990
Abstract
Considering the importance of caring thinking in shaping ethical judgments and human decisions, this study aimed to examine Iranian stories from the perspective of caring thinking and their use in the Philosophy for Children (P4C) program. The research was conducted using a deductive content analysis approach and a qualitative method. The stories were selected purposefully with maximum diversity in mind. The findings revealed that the component of empathy in stories such as Sara, Apple Jam River, and The Little Black Fish had a significant impact on the moral interactions of the characters. Moreover, the emotional component played a key role in influencing the emotional reactions of the characters. In contrast, the element of values in stories like The Most Beautiful Song emphasized the search for values such as honesty and justice. The norm component also influenced the characters’ interactions with social and personal norms. Finally, the activity component in stories like An Umbrella with White Butterflies and If the Snowmen Don’t Melt emphasized the impact of the character's actions on their inner transformation and social growth. The results showed that Iranian stories have the potential to foster caring thinking in children, and to make optimal use of them in the P4C program, it is necessary to design thinking activities and exercises that align with the objectives of the program and integrate them into the content of the stories.
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