This study examines fairness in terms of human inner character, and aims to find ways to analyze and overcome cognitive bias as a factor that hinders fairness. Several studies on fairness have mainly discussed fairness in terms of improving the irrati...
This study examines fairness in terms of human inner character, and aims to find ways to analyze and overcome cognitive bias as a factor that hinders fairness. Several studies on fairness have mainly discussed fairness in terms of improving the irrationality of social structures or discriminating between fairness and injustice. Although this emphasizes that fairness is an important value for the realization of social justice, there is a limit to the discussion of fairness by limiting it to the level of social problems, mainly emphasizing institutional improvement and neglecting the role that the human inner world can play as a moral subject.
In this paper, fairness is not an object or standard of judgment, but a character that the subject of moral judgment must have. Fairness as a character encompasses the responsibility to act for change and improvement by maintaining a balance that is not biased to either side based on the openness to recognize and accept differences from the perspective of others. It is to see fairness as an internal virtue that makes the best judgment in various moral problem situations beyond the existing view that viewed it as a standard of fairness or unfairness.
Due to the limitations of natural thinking structures and cognitive abilities, humans are prone to bias. In Dual Process Theory, this is described as System 1 and System 2. Evolutionarily, humans have pursued fast decision-making by intuitive thinking. This is because reducing cognitive consumption in complex problem-solving processes is advantageous for survival. In particular, the more difficult and complex it is to judge right and wrong, like a moral problem, the more automatic and intuitive thinking by System 1 is mainly used, so cognitive biases often appear and irrational decisions are made. These cognitive biases appear automatically and unconsciously and hinder fairness.
While analytical thinking through System 2 can regulate intuitive responses from System 1, activating it requires significant cognitive effort. Furthermore, group-level interventions are often more effective than individual efforts. Therefore, it is essential to systematically address strategies for mitigating cognitive biases within the framework of moral education.
Therefore, we would like to present the use of accuracy motivation, cognitive awareness training, and emotion regulation strategies as strategies to overcome cognitive bias to foster fairness. When motivation for accuracy is induced in learners, they deviate from the attitude of selectively searching for information that supports existing beliefs and pursue accuracy regardless of the direction of the conclusion. Accuracy motivation can be promoted through accountability because learners consume more cognitive energy to make accurate judgments when their responsibility burden increases. In addition, the influence of bias can be reduced by being aware of it and reflecting on it using metacognition. And emotional regulation strategies, such as naming emotions, help emotional regulation by explicitly expressing emotions. Since emotion in moral judgment is a key factor in intuitive response, emotional regulation strategies can help overcome cognitive bias.
Research results that show that cognitive bias can be alleviated through appropriate interventions provide the basis for cultivating the character of fairness through moral education. This is because, with appropriate educational intervention, fairness can be developed by checking and reflecting on learners' biases according to cognitive limitations. Based on the strategy for overcoming cognitive bias reviewed above, I would like to propose applying a constructive debate class in moral education. Constructive debate is the process of seeking a solution by structuring conflict in a cooperative context. Constructive debate classes involve the process of adopting other people's perspectives, allowing students to deviate from self-centeredness, recognize each other's thoughts, and reduce disagreements. Constructive debate classes based on consensus and cooperation help learners to reflect on and internalize fairness by overcoming existing beliefs and biases.
In order to apply constructive debate classes in school education, teachers must perform a fairness role model along with effective instructional design. Teachers themselves should check cognitive biases by using checklists, etc., and reflect on cultivating their own fairness. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to whether they are biased toward specific opinions in the process of constructive debate. And the educational space is a place of participation in which members' diverse perspectives and active exchange of opinions appear. Only when all members recognize that addressing community issues is a shared task and continue to search for the best method based on a sense of responsibility, will they be able to grow into just citizens who internalize the character of fairness.