World-View Entrapment: Moral-Ethical Implications for Gifted Education

Abstract

Root-metaphorical world views strongly shape our thoughts and actions at the implicit level. The mechanistic world view provided the conceptual foundations for unprecedented technological progress throughout the modern era; however, its basic tenets have serious moral-ethical implications. Sociopolitical trends and issues reinforced by this world view include technological determinism, social Darwinism, and androcentrism. Educational practices reinforced by mechanism include positivistic approaches to curriculum, instruction, and research. The moral-ethical implications of these trends and practices are explored, along with recommendations for developing awareness of root-metaphorical influences on the field of gifted education.