Abstract:

With the globalization of economic development and the greater extent of the opening of the society, the values, thinking modes and behavior patterns of people are undergoing dramatic changes. So is the moral education. To some extent, moral education has a significant impact on the growth and development of the individual, and it is the key to building a socialist harmonious society. Both China and the western countries have always attached great importance to moral education and are actively exploring the patterns of moral education in line with the trend of the social development. However there are huge differences between China and the western countries in historical development, political system, economy and culture. In this paper, the author first offers the definition and explains the importance of moral education. Then, the author elaborates the differences in moral education between China and the western countries. The differences are that China lays great emphasis on collectivism while the western countries lay great emphasis on individualism; China lays great emphasis on the rule of man while the western countries lay great emphasis on the rule of law. Thirdly, the author analyzes the reasons for the similarities and differences. The reasons of the differences are that China and the western countries have different cultural backgrounds, thinking styles, political systems and education purposes. Finally the author briefly explains the enlightenment of the western moral education for the Chinese moral education. Learning the differences and similarities in moral education between Western and Chinese can make English learners have a better understanding of Western culture.

Key words: moral education; differences; reasons; enlightenment
 
摘要：

随着我国经济的发展，社会开放程度的提高，人们的价值观念、思维模式和行为模式正在发生剧烈的变化, 道德教育亦是如此。从某种意义上说，道德教育不仅对个体的成长和发展有着重要影响，也是建设社会主义和谐社会的关键。中西方历来都很重视道德教育，都在积极探寻符合社会发展趋势的道德教育理路和途径。但是，中西方无论在发展历史、政治制度、还是经济文化方面都存在着很大差异，因而道德教育也存在不同之处。本文首先阐述了道德教育的定义以及重要性。其次，详细分析了中西方道德教育的不同之处，中国注重集体主义而西方国家注重个人主义、中国强调人治主义而西方强调法治。第三，分析形成这种相似之处与不同之处的原因。不同之处的原因是因为中西方有着不同的文化背景、思维方式、政治体制以及教育目的。相同之处的原因是因为我们都是人类并拥有着共同的祖先。最后，本文简要叙述了西方道德教育对我国道德教育的启示。学习中西方道德教育的异同，有助于英语学习者更好的了解西方文化。

关键词：道德教育；不同之处；原因；启示