Deliberation as the Foundation of Ethics in Higher Education Training: Foundations and Challenges

Abstract

Deliberation as a necessary attitude in contemporary life seems to be specifically rooted in the early stages of education. However, as a primarily moral and evaluative stance, it is a powerful tool for shaping more reflective, critical, and proactive citizens. Furthermore, it establishes a way of engaging with knowledge, others, and, above all, oneself. In this sense, it is important to identify the foundations of deliberation to understand how its possibilities can be unfolded in higher education. It is crucial to recognize the challenges of this notion in the contemporary configuration of the world and the current university spirit. In this regard, through a phenomenological hermeneutic approach, deliberation is initially presented in light of Gadamer's concept of the fusion of horizons to ensure its contextualization along with Gracia's proposal. Consequently, understanding the dynamics of deliberation in the realm of higher education allows us to recognize its potential in shaping education and, at the same time, identify its challenges in the face of the current configuration of the university. Finally, deliberation is presented as a fundamental element in comprehensive education and in the ethical constitution of individuals, as well as in the formation of their character necessary to address the problems of contemporary life.