MORAL DEVELOPMENT AND ITS EXPLANATION

ABSTRACT \ This study examines Lawrence Kohlberg's Cognitive-Developmental theory of moral development and Ita relation to moral education. Kohlberg's structuralism Is called 'into question as an. u· ixplanation of the estAblished facts of moral development, and it is suggested that alternative explanations may be at least equally satis-factory. The close connection between Kohlberg's formalist value-theory and his psychological explanation is then explored. It la found that they are mutually involved and that both are of doubtful coherence. After some of the connexions between Kohlberg'a value-theory and his prescriptions for education are noted, an attempt is made to house the facts of development within an explanation embody-ing a contrasting theory of value. It is suggested that the alternative value-theory offered, and the concomitant explanation of moral d~velop mem, are both truer to our experience of moral action and moral learning. The imp?rtantly different implications of the alternative explanation for education are then sketched. In conclusion, a plea is made for a re-opening of the competition between alternative explana-tions of moral development. Ie is suggested that without such critical inquiry, moral education programmes deriving from Konlberg's work lack theoretical justification. iii