VERITAS ET MISERICORDIA

DEVELOPING ETHICS: MY MORAL

JOURNEY
 ETHICS
 Ethics is the quest for the good and we define
the good as happiness-in-rational-activity.
Meaning, this could not be attained if we let
ourselves be enslaved by recklessness and
emotion. This good life is possible to attain in a
life of virtuous activities together with friends.
To help us understand this better, we will be
needing the help of two thinkers: Aristotle and
Lawrence Kohlberg.
 ARISTOTLE
 Aristotle is an ancient Greek philosopher who
theorized about the way we develop our moral
selves. Aristotle tells us that the good life is a
rational activity with virtue. It is focused on
asking ourselves the question, “How to make
my life good/fulfilling?” The good for Aristotle
is a state wherein we feel that we are complete,
enough or a life that is fulfilling.
 ARISTOTLE
 Achieving the good life, for Aristotle, is done in
three stages which are as follows:

Mature,
Immature Self Maturing Self Rational
Person
 ARISTOTLE
 The Immature Self is someone who acts on impulse and feelings
and opposes all kinds of guidance towards morality.
 The Maturing Self is obedient to moral guidance and has a sense of
honor. He follows the moral virtues.
 The Mature, Rational person is someone who chooses his own
goals, values and seeks wisdom.
 But, there is a catch here, being on a higher stage of moral
development at one point in time is not an assurance that one could
not degenerate into a lower stage. You should always be on your
toes by not being complacent on your moral status but always strive
hard to be consistent in developing your moral stage.
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
 Lawrence Kohlberg’s idea of the stages of moral
development could be understood as a process through
which we develop proper attitudes and behaviors toward
other people in society, based on social and cultural norms,
rules and laws. Before we proceed, we must understand how
Kohlberg differentiates morals and values.
 Kohlberg defines morals as society’s way of telling right
from wrong while values are a more individual way of
identifying and judging right from wrong.
 He believed that moral growth occurs through interaction
with one’s environment, and progresses through defined
stages.
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
Level Stage Definition
Based on avoiding punishment, a focus
on the consequences of actions rather
Obedience and Punishment than intentions; an intrinsic deference to
authority
Pre-Conventional
The “right” behaviors are those that are
Individualism and exchange in best interest of oneself; tit for tat
mentality.

“Good boy/ Good girl” attitude, sees

Interpersonal relationships individuals as filling social roles.

Conventional Law and order as highest ideals, social

Authority and Social Order obedience is a must to maintaining a
functional society

Begin to learn other’s have different

Social Contract values; realization that law is contingent
on culture
Post-Conventional
Develop internal moral principles;
Universal Principles individual begins to obey these above
the law
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
 Furthermore, Kohlberg states that moving through
the stages is not a product of maturity and that new
forms of thinking and the movement through stages
cannot be taught.
 Development through stages is created from our own
thinking about moral problems. Social experiences
promote development, but they do so by stimulating
our mental processes. Discussions and debates with
others question and challenge our views and we are
therefore motivated to come up with new, more
comprehensive positions.