Kohlberg's theory of moral development proposes 3 levels of moral reasoning with 2 stages each:
1) Pre-conventional morality where children obey rules to avoid punishment.
2) Conventional morality where individuals conform to social norms for approval.
3) Post-conventional morality where individuals develop their own principles based on justice. Only 10-15% achieve the highest stages of reasoning from universal ethical principles.
Kohlberg's theory of moral development proposes 3 levels of moral reasoning with 2 stages each:
1) Pre-conventional morality where children obey rules to avoid punishment.
2) Conventional morality where individuals conform to social norms for approval.
3) Post-conventional morality where individuals develop their own principles based on justice. Only 10-15% achieve the highest stages of reasoning from universal ethical principles.
Kohlberg's theory of moral development proposes 3 levels of moral reasoning with 2 stages each:
1) Pre-conventional morality where children obey rules to avoid punishment.
2) Conventional morality where individuals conform to social norms for approval.
3) Post-conventional morality where individuals develop their own principles based on justice. Only 10-15% achieve the highest stages of reasoning from universal ethical principles.
Kohlberg's theory of moral development proposes 3 levels of moral reasoning with 2 stages each:
1) Pre-conventional morality where children obey rules to avoid punishment.
2) Conventional morality where individuals conform to social norms for approval.
3) Post-conventional morality where individuals develop their own principles based on justice. Only 10-15% achieve the highest stages of reasoning from universal ethical principles.
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HM-221 Social and Ethical
Aspects in Engineering
Lecture 3
1 Moral or Ethical Development/ Hierarchy of Ethical Values
2 Kohlberg's theory of moral development
3 Lawrence Kohlberg was a developmental psychologist, moral philosopher, and student of child development. Kohlberg's research interest focused upon the moral development of children and, in particular, how they develop a sense of right, wrong, and justice. Kohlberg observed that children advance through what he believed to be definite stages of moral development .
4 Kohlberg's theory of moral development
He identified three distinct levels of moral reasoning each with two sub stages. People can only pass through these levels in the order listed. Each new stage replaces the reasoning typical of the earlier stage. Not everyone achieves all the stages.
At the pre-conventional level (most nine-year-olds and
younger, some over nine), children don’t have a personal code of morality. Instead, their moral code is shaped by the standards of adults and the consequences of following or breaking their rules. Authority is outside the individual and reasoning is based on the physical consequences of actions.
6 Level 1 - Pre-conventional morality (Contd.)
• Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation:
The child/individual is good in order to avoid being punished. If a person is punished, they must have done wrong. • Stage 2. Individualism and Exchange: At this stage children recognize that there is not just one right view that is handed down by the authorities. Different individuals have different viewpoints.
7 Level 2 - Conventional morality
At the conventional level (most adolescents and adults),
people begin to internalize the moral standards of valued adult role models. Authority is internalized and reasoning is based on the norms of the group to which the person belongs.
8 Level 2 - Conventional morality (Contd.)
• Stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationships:
The child/individual is good in order to be seen as being a good person by others. Therefore, answers relate to the approval of others. • Stage 4. Maintaining the Social Order: The child/individual becomes aware of the wider rules of society so judgments concern obeying the rules in order to uphold the law and to avoid guilt.
9 Level 3 - Post-conventional morality
Individual judgment is based on self-chosen principles, and moral
reasoning is based on individual rights and justice. According to Kohlberg this level of moral reasoning is as far as most people get. Only 10-15% are capable of the kind of abstract thinking necessary for stage 5 or 6 (post-conventional morality). That is to say most people take their moral views from those around them and only a minority think through ethical principles for themselves.
10 Level 3 - Post-conventional morality (Contd.)
Stage 5. Social Contract and Individual Rights:
The child/individual becomes aware that while rules/laws might exist for the good of the greatest number, there are times when they will work against the interest of particular individuals. The issues are not always clear cut. For example, Ayesha Mumtaz crackdown against restaurants with poor hygiene.
11 Level 3 - Post-conventional morality (Contd.)
Stage 6. Universal Principles:
People at this stage have developed their own set of moral guidelines which may or may not fit the law. The principles apply to everyone. E.g. human rights, justice and equality. The person will be prepared to act to defend these principles even if it means going against the rest of society in the process and having to pay the consequences of disapproval and or imprisonment. Kohlberg doubted few people reached this stage. For instance; in India ban on cow slaughter and meat sale.
