Cognition and Morality

[Pah]

Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987)

Complete article here

Kohlberg is best known for his work in the development of moral reasoning in children and adolescents. Seeking to expand on Jean Piaget's work in cognitive development and to determine whether there are universal stages in moral development as well, Kohlberg conducted a long-term study in which he recorded the responses of boys aged seven through adolescence to hypothetical dilemmas requiring a moral choice. (The most famous sample question is whether the husband of a critically ill woman is justified in stealing a drug that could save her life if the pharmacist is charging much more than he can afford to pay.) Based on the results of his study, Kohlberg concluded that children and adults progress through six stages in the development of moral reasoning. He also concluded that moral development is directly related to cognitive development, with older children able to base their responses on increasingly broad and abstract ethical standards.

Does it take a reasoning mind to develop concepts of morality?

 

[jewscout]

I think that the author is definetely on to something here. Our cognitive abilities allow us to understand morality and to not give in to our baser desires. We may feel like doing something but whether it is right or wrong, beneficial or not, or whether it will hurt ourselves or those we care about is something that seperates mankind from other creatures. When G-d made us in his own image he it wasn't a physical image but a spiritual and mental "image", giving us the ability to reason and rationalize.