Narrative-Based AI Ethics Education for Emerging Technologies: Leveraging ‘The Monkey's Paw’ for AI Alignment and Social Justice

The rise of autonomous AI agents introduces complex ethical concerns, particularly regarding value alignment, unintended consequences, and system accountability. Despite these growing risks, AI ethics remains underemphasized in many technical education programs. This paper proposes an original narrative-based instructional model using W. W. Jacobs's The Monkey's Paw (1902) to address key concepts in AI ethics and responsible innovation. The story's brevity, metaphorical richness, and public availability make it a practical resource for stimulating discussion around AI alignment and social impact. A classroom strategy is outlined to demonstrate how narrative tools can complement technical learning and promote ethical reflection among future developers and users.