Khlberg's Moral morality: Accurate for us?

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohlberg%2 ... ent#Stages

I think our actions would be considered too odd to classify or that we would almost always be considered more advanced in our morality because of our natural individuality.

Or would it be the opposite way? If you believe that, explain please.

I think Lawrence Kohlberg's theory is intriguing. I would argue we're more likely to be in the latter stages of the moral reasoning. The gift of Autism is to perceive the world abstractly. Therefore, it must be easier for us to develop beyond a morality based on the rules that exist, to a morality based on what is actually ethically right or wrong.

I notice that Kohlberg proposed a final stage of morality could be transcendental. That is, inspired by a God or Gods or some kind of religion. I think that makes sense. Since I started to believe in a God or Gods as well as reincarnation I find it easier to be moral.

Yet I suspect many people who go to churches, mosques, synagogues and temples simply pretend to believe in a God or Gods. I even saw a news report about a British vicar openly admitting he'd never believed in God. These people must see religion as one of society's laws necessary for keeping morals. They can not appreciate the higher morality of what the religion is truly about.

This got almsot no attention and I really want to discuss this, so bump.

I think I went from 1 to 3 to 2.


For a long time I had a stubborn distrust of authority and to some extent I still do. However, I do have a strong respect for order and law. Thinking about it it's a weird combination.

Today I'd say my respect of authority or leadership is conditional and I need to evaluate it. If I'm impressed by any leader's qualities I switch to the other extreme and would be ridiculously loyal to them.

I wonder if I have views grounded in Level 3 that I expect Level 2 authority figures to satisfy.


As for Level 3 I might equate that with what I've heard of Natural Law.

I seem to have been a Level 2 (ie numbers 3 and 4) from a young age. It is noted on my grade 3 report card: "when caught, accepts punishment willingly"

As an adult I'd say I've moved to a 3. I don't have a desire to be perceived of as "good" or to cooperate with authority for the sake of doing so, but I'm guided more by principles and attempts to achieve consistency between principles, and between principle and action.

A lot of people in my area know tend to be on Stage 1 because they are from broken homes. They don't care about the severity of their actions, just about getting caught by the wrong people.

I think I am in Stage 3, though as a teenager definitely tried to be Stage 2 to fit in.

I would guess I am about level 4 with my strong set of convictions and high standards for what I enjoy.

When we hit Level 3, we become Pinko Stinko Commie loving Socialists.

If the human race ever reaches Level 3, we will be conquered by aliens from another solar system.

ruveyn