Challenging the concept of ethical literacy within Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): storytelling as a method within sustainability didactics

Ethical literacy seems to be used, within Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), in various ways, some more general and others morally specific, emphasising individuals’ responsibility. The overarching aim of this paper is to present some prerequisites for the development of narrative methods that focus on the vision of a good society without compromising individual integrity. Is it possible to develop ESD in a ways that highlight global challenges with a focus on justice and equity without either, as within post-political romanticism, pretending that social sustainability is a non-controversial ethical goal, or, as within liberal individualistic approaches, claiming that no one may escape from the demands of action competence, which, it is claimed, paves the way for making social sustainability a reality? With reference to some threads in narrative theory and by an analysis of six children’s books, this paper critically and constructively examines storytelling as one method to inspire young people to reflect upon what a good society and a good world might be, to catch sight of visions of a sustainable world and of the differences between how things are and how things could be – a method that may also preserve respect for individuals’ integrity.