person1950s-1987

Lawrence Kohlberg

Disciplines:

Summary

American developmental psychologist who extended Piaget's work into a six-stage theory of moral development — from pre-conventional to post-conventional moral reasoning.

Core Contribution

Six stages of moral development: from punishment avoidance (stage 1) through social contract (stage 5) to universal ethical principles (stage 6). The Heinz dilemma: a moral reasoning test used to assign developmental stage. Justice reasoning: Kohlberg argued moral development culminates in an impartial, principled conception of justice.

Key Spikes & Highlights

Carol Gilligan's In a Different Voice was a direct critique of Kohlberg — arguing his theory was based on all-male samples and privileged a masculine justice orientation over a feminine care orientation.

Notable Works & Achievements

The Philosophy of Moral Development

The Psychology of Moral Development

Historical Influences

Jean Piaget John Dewey Immanuel Kant

Intellectual Lineage

Piagetian Psychology Moral Philosophy

Contemporaries & Peers

Jean Piaget Carol Gilligan

Minds Influenced

Carol Gilligan James Rest Moral Education

Intellectual Posterity

Moral Development Theory Moral Psychology

Discussing