Issues and debates- The development of morality

Issues and Debates in Morality

Learning Objectives

  • LO1: Understand the meaning of the terms ‘morals’ and ‘morality’.

  • LO2: Explain the stages of morality: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional.

  • LO3: Understand theories explaining the development of morality.

Discussion Questions (Page 2)

  • Do you think you know right from wrong?

  • Have your ideas of right and wrong changed in the past five years?

  • Discuss sources of your moral ideas.

  • Are morals innate or learned?

  • Is there a universal set of morals?

Key Terminology (Page 3)

Morals vs. Morality

  • Morals: Concepts of right and wrong in behavior, varying by culture.

  • Morality: Proper behavior according to principles separating good and bad actions.

Moral Development

  • Refers to children's reasoning about right and wrong, evolving through time into adulthood.

Moral Dilemmas (Page 4)

  • Case Study: Heinz dilemma on stealing a drug for a loved one presents ethical conflict regarding legality versus moral justification.

Theories of Moral Development (Page 5)

  1. Jean Piaget (1932): Moral understanding progresses through stages reflecting cognitive development.

  2. Lawrence Kohlberg (1958): Three levels of moral reasoning (pre-conventional, conventional, post-conventional).

  3. William Damon (1999): Morality influenced by social interactions and inherent human nature.

Piaget's Stages of Moral Development (Page 6-7)

  • Heteronomous Stage (up to age 10): Children view rules as changeless, emphasis on consequences of actions.

  • Autonomous Stage (around age 10): Recognition of intentions; rules can be adjusted if agreed upon by peers

Kohlberg's Levels of Moral Reasoning (Page 8)

  • Level 1: Pre-conventional morality (up to 9 years).

  • Level 2: Conventional morality (most youth & adults).

  • Level 3: Post-conventional morality (around 10% reach this level).

Critiques of Theories (Page 11)

  1. Artificial Scenarios: Lack ecological validity; decisions in stories do not have real consequences.

  2. Gender Bias: Carol Gilligan criticized Kohlberg for basing his theory on a male-only sample, raising concerns about representation in moral reasoning.

Gender Differences in Morality (Page 12)

Aspects of Male vs. Female Morality

  • Males: Focus on rights & justice.

  • Females: Emphasize caring & responsibility.

  • Discussion point: Agreement on differing moral perspectives between genders.

Development Sources of Morality (Page 13-14)

  1. Social Experiences: Moral development shaped by life experiences.

  2. Intellectual Growth: Moral reasoning evolves through cognitive stages.

  3. Biological Factors: Nativist theories suggest inherent moral inclinations.

Damon’s Insights (1999)

  • Discusses the interplay of biology and environment in developing morality.

  • Emphasizes importance of consistent moral messaging for children.

Facilitating Moral Understanding in Children (Page 15)

  • Global empathy in early infancy.

  • Development of perspective-taking and understanding diverse experiences around ages 10-12.

  • Need for varied experiences to enhance moral thinking and self-control.

Conclusion & Assessment (Page 16-18)

  • Prepare for assessed question and end-of-unit test.

  • Create flashcards on morality development concepts for revision.