Lesson 21: The Development of Moral Reasoning

Attention

Freud identified moral reasoning as a simple battle between the forces of evil (id) and the forces of good (super-ego)...represented here by Homer's conversation with the little angel and devil!

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Consider moral dilemmas from a Justice and Care perspective

Teaching

Kohlberg's Model of Moral Reasoning (the Justice Perspective)

  • Pre conventional Level: Punishment and Reward
    • Stage 1: Obedience to authority
    • Stage 2: Nice behavior in exchange for future favors
  • Conventional Level: Social Norms
    • Stage 3: Live up to others' expectations
    • Stage 4: Follow rules to maintain social order
  • Post conventional Level: Moral Code
    • Stage 5: Adhere to a social contract when it is valid
    • Stage 6: Personal moral system based on abstract principles

Closely aligned with Piaget's concepts of qualitative changes in thinking.

Built around a general concept of Social Justice

The Care Perspective

Multicultural developmental psychologists, and the work of Carol Gilligan, recognize that some people (women in the case of Gilligan), approach moral reasoning from a care perspective, where fulfilling obligations to other people guide moral decisions.

  • Pre conventional Level: Individual survival
  • Conventional Level: Self sacrifice is good
  • Post conventional Level: Principle of nonviolence and care for others and self

Read THIS article to get a better sense of the Care Perspective

Assessment

Here is the story of Ben's Trip to San Francisco

Ben planned to travel to San Francisco in order to attend the wedding of his best friend. He needed to catch the very next train if he was to be on time for the ceremony, as he had to deliver the wedding rings. However, Ben's wallet was stolen in the train station. He lost all of his money as well as his ticket to San Francisco.

Ben approached several officials as well as passengers...and asked them to loan him money to buy a new ticket. But, because he was a stranger, no one was willing to lend him the money he needed.

While Ben was trying to decide what to do next, a well-dressed man sitting next to him walked away...Ben notices that the man had left his coat unattended. Sticking out of the man's coat pocket was a train ticket to San Francisco. He also saw that the man had more than enough money in his coat to buy another train ticket.

Special Instructions

To complete this assessment you need to describe what you would do and then determine which stage that action would be at according to the two models...both the Justice Perspective and the Care Perspective. So, each answer should include:

Lesson 21 Assessment

  1. Consider the story about Ben and his trip to San Francisco from the lesson. What you (or your subject) would do if you were in these circmstances...and why (be detailed as to the moral decision you are making)
  2. Based on an analysis of what you (or your subject would do) identify the corresponding stage in the Justice Perspective.
  3. Based on an analysis of what you (or your subject would do) identify the corresponding stage in the Care Perspective.