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Moral Development

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Moral development is the process by which individuals learn to distinguish right from wrong, influenced by societal norms, culture, and personal experiences. Lawrence Kohlberg's theory outlines six stages of moral reasoning, evolving from childhood into adulthood. Critiques of this theory, such as Carol Gilligan's ethic of care, and the role of intuition in moral judgments, suggest a more complex understanding of moral development.

The Foundations of Moral Development

Moral development is the gradual process through which individuals acquire the ability to differentiate between right and wrong, forming a set of beliefs that influence their decisions and actions throughout life. This process is shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including societal norms, cultural influences, and personal experiences. Morals, which are principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior, are distinct from religious doctrines and ethical theories, although they may be influenced by them. For instance, the concept of ahimsa, which emphasizes non-violence, is a moral principle that can lead to ethical practices such as vegetarianism to minimize harm to living beings.
Six children of different ethnicities sitting in a circle on green grass discuss near an inactive wooden scale, under a blue sky.

Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development, an extension of Jean Piaget's work on cognitive development, proposes a sequence of six stages of moral reasoning that individuals potentially progress through as they mature. This theory, a cornerstone in the field of developmental psychology, posits that moral reasoning develops in tandem with cognitive abilities and is a lifelong endeavor. Kohlberg's research, which involved presenting moral dilemmas to children and analyzing their responses, identified three broad levels of moral reasoning: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional, each comprising two distinct stages. According to Kohlberg, not all individuals reach the highest stages, underscoring the complexity of moral development.

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00

The principle of ______ promotes non-violence and may inspire ethical choices like ______ to reduce harm to creatures.

ahimsa

vegetarianism

01

Kohlberg's stages of moral development

Sequence of six stages: 1) Obedience/Punishment, 2) Self-Interest, 3) Conformity/Interpersonal, 4) Authority/Law, 5) Social Contract, 6) Universal Ethical Principles.

02

Kohlberg's levels of moral reasoning

Three levels: 1) Pre-conventional (self-centered reasoning), 2) Conventional (societal norms), 3) Post-conventional (abstract principles).

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