Stages of Moral Development

definition of moral development

refers to the way we learn right from wrong

who developed the stages of moral development

Dr. Kohlberg; professor at harvard, conducted a 20 year study on males, devoted his career to this concept

4 general points about the stages

6 stages (not everyone progresses through all 6, 3 levels (two stages per level), a person must pass through the stages sequentially, it is possible to operate at more than one stage

what are the 3 levels

preconventional, conventional, postconventional

preconventional

before abstract though

conventional

abstract thought is developing

postconventional

abstract thought has fully developed

two stages inside preconventional

reward / punishment, me first

two stages of conventional

pleasing others, the law

two stages of postconventional

society, principle

all 6 stages in order

reward/punishment, me first, pleasing others, the law, society, principle

reward/punishment

begins in early childhood, good is that which brings a positive physical consequence, can only differentiate right from wrong based on physical consequence

me first

good is that which benefits the individual, bad is that which harms the individual, knows the difference between right and wrong, but will only do what’s right if there is something in it for them, selfish

pleasing others

good is that which others approve of, bad is that which others disapprove of, wants to be liked, accepted, and wants to fit in

the law

good is that which abides by law or legitimate authority, bad is that which violates law or legitimate authority, strict rule keeper, blindly follow established order

society

good is that which benefits the majority, bad is that which harms the majority, questions laws to understand their meaning and purpose, work for the betterment of the whole

principle

good is that which abides by a well informed conscience, bad is that which violates conscience, selfless, will sacrifice for what is right

example of reward/punishment

getting burned from playing with a lighter and not playing with it again

example of me first

only helping mom with the dishes to be able to use the car

example of pleasing others

being a teacher’s pet

example of the law

following the speed limit because that is what the law is

example of society

going the speed limit to not endanger the community

example of principle

donating to a global charity

what are the three things to consider for determining moral responsibility

object, intention, and circumstance

object

the act itself, always either good or bad

intention

refers to the motive, or the reason for action

circumstance

refers to the surrounding factors and the outcome

what determines responsibility

intention and circumstance

3 actions that carry built responsibility

accident, negligence, deliberate intent

accident definition

a person is not morally responsible for harm due to an accident because of a lack of knowledge or ignorance, harm could not have reasonably been expected

negligence definition

a person is morally responsible for acts of negligence

two parts of negligence

carelessness- a person does little to prevent the harm from happening, gross/recklessness- no care is used to prevent harm

deliberate intent definition

a person is morally responsible for acts of deliberate intent

two parts of deliberate intent

deliberate indirect intent and deliberate direct intent

deliberate INDIRECT intent

when the person knows the harm will occur but did not plan for it to happen. It is spontaneous

Deliberate DIRECT intent

carries the greatest decree of moral responsibility. Absolute worst thing a person can do. When the harm is carefully planned and calculated

a philosophy that denies there’s any meaning in existence or religious beliefs. Maintain that the only thing that comes after life is nothingness, annihilation,

nihilism

the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect. Ever human person has worth and value because each person is made in God’s image.

dignity

inborn or inherited, something that does not need to be earned or acquired

inherent

the power, rooted in reason and will to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility

free will

the principle of Catholic social teaching that holds that a higher unit of society should not do what a lower unit can do as well

subsidiarity

sum of total of social conditions that allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily

common good

the christian virtue of social charity and friendship

solidarity