The Current Formulation of Kohlberg’s Theory and a Response to Critics

Abstract

This article is a synopsis of the monograph Moral Stages: A Current Formulation and a Response to Critics. Recent changes in the theory of moral stages are presented, including a broadening of theoretical and research concerns, differentiation of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ stages, clarification of the form-content distinction, revision of A and B substages, clarification of Stages 6 and 7, discussion of moral action, listing of nine metaethical assumptions made prior to research, etc. In response to critics of the theory, it is pointed out that the primary concern is with justice reasoning per se, and it is argued that there is no sexual, cross-cultural, or ideological bias to the theory in any strong sense of the term. Directions for future research include clarifying the conceptions of stage structure and transformation, the relationship between judgment and action, and the psychological and normative-ethical status of Stage 6.

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