Kohlberg’s Level 3 and 4 Conventional Morality is Non-Existent

By

Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif

©Copyright 2010 by Anthony J. Fejfar

Developmental Psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg based his Moral Development

Theory on the work of Cogntive Developmental Psychologist, Jean Piaget. Kohlberg,

wrongly, argues that Levels 3 and 4 of moral reasoning involve Conventional Morality.

In fact, the whole idea of Conventional Morality is a fraud. Piaget states that Level 3

thinking involves concrete logic or reason. Thus, it makes sense that Level 3 Morality

involves concrete logic or reason. This type of logic is taught in grades chool to children.

Children are taught the fact/fiction distinction. They are taught that it is wrong to state

two different propositions that are logically contradictory. They are taught that green is

not brown, and brown is not green. And more. This type of logic is used in concrete

moral reasoning, and, it is a very effective form of thinking. Moreover, Piaget taught

that at Level 4, persons are in Formal Operations Thinking. Formal Operations Thinking

involves the ability to categorize ideas and compare and contrast ideas. Formal

Operations also involves the ability of the person to do hypothetical thinking, comparing,

contrasting, and evaluating different theories. In Formal Operations Moral Thinking, a

person learns to hypothesize or imagine different possible future courses of action for

purposes of moral decision making or moral deliberation. The person learns to evaluate

each possible future course of action in terms of positive and negative consequences for

those involved in the situation. Finally, Formal Operations Thinking also involves

cognitively reciprocal thinking or distanciation. In terms of Formal Operations Moral

Thinking, this means that the person can internally role play, and consider the

consequences of any proposed course of action in terms of the effects on him or herself,

and others. Thus, it is absolutely clear that the idea of conventional morality found in

Kohlberg’s work, is absolutely absurd, and should be discarded.

Bibliography

Walter Conn, Conscience and Self-Transcendence (1973)

Lawrence Kohlberg, Moral Development, 5 International Encyclopedia of

Social Science 483 (1968).

Jean Piaget, The Construction of Reality in the Child (1971)

Jean Piaget, Six Psychological Studies (1967)