MORAL AGENT AND THE SUBJECT OF MORAL WORTH

 MORAL AGENT - is capable of acting with reference to right and wrong and has the power
intentionally cause harm to another.
 A MORAL SUBJECT is anything that can be harmed
 A MORAL AGENT POSSESSES 2 DISTINCT HUMAN EXCELLENCES
1) EXCELLENCE OF THOUGHT (intellectual virtue)
2) EXCELLENCE OF CHARACTER (moral virtue)
 VIRTUE – behavior showing high moral standards
 VIRTUOUS TRAITS – character ought to be stable and enduring and are not mere products of
fortune, but of learning, constant practice, and cultivation. Also called excellences of the human
being because they are the best exercise of reason, which is the activity of human beings.
 LAURENCE KOHLBERG – is best known for his theory of stages of moral development.
 MORAL DEVELOPMENT – is the process by which people develop the distinction between right
and wrong (morality) and engage in reasoning between the two (moral reasoning)
 KOHLBERG’S 3 LEVELS AND 6 STAGES OF MORAL REASONING
 LEVEL 1: PRECONVENTIONAL MORALITY (0 to 9 years old) - A child’s sense of morality is
eternally controlled. Authority is outside the individual and children often make moral decisions
based on the physical consequences of actions.
(Children’s decisions are primarily shaped by the expectations of adults and the consequences of
breaking the rules.)
o STAGE 1: OBEDIENCE – AND – PUNISHMENT ORIENTATION = focuses on the
child’s desire to obey rules and avoid being punished.
(Earliest stages of Moral Development)
For EXAMPLE, an action is perceived as morally wrong because the perpetrator is
punished; the worse punishment for the act is, the more “bad” the act is perceived to be.
o STAGE 2: INDIVIDUALISM AND EXCHANGE = Children recognize that there is not
just one right view that is handed down by the authorities. Different individuals have
different viewpoints.
 LEVEL 2: CONVENTIONAL MORALITY (early adolescence to adulthood) -A child’s sense is
morality tied to personal and societal relationships. Authority is internalized but not questioned
and, reasoning is based on the norms of the group to which the person belongs.
o STAGE 3: GOOD BOY, NICE GIRL ORIENTATION = Children want the approval of
others and act in ways to avoid disapproval. Emphasis is placed on good behavior and
people being “nice” to others.
o STAGE 4: LAW – AND – ORDER ORIENTATION = the child blindly accepts rules and
convention because of their importance in maintaining a functioning society . Rules are
seen as being the same for everyone, and obeying rules by doing what one is “ supposed”
to do is seen as valuable and important.
  LEVEL 3: POSTCONVENTIONAL MORALITY (some adults; rare) -A person’s sense of
morality is defined in terms of more abstract principles and values. Individual judgement is based
on self-chosen principles and moral reasoning is based on individual rights and justice.
o STAGE 5: SOCIAL CONTRACT ORIENTATION AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS = the
world is viewed as holding different opinions, rights, and values. Such perspectives should
be mutually respected as unique to each person or community. Laws are regarded as
social contracts rather than rigid edicts.
o STAGE 6: UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES = moral reasoning is based on abstract reasoning
using universal ethical principles. Generally, the chosen principles are abstract rather than
concrete and focus on ideas such as equality, dignity, or respect.