Comparison of Kohlberg and Gilligan's models of moral development argument

KOHLBERG'S SIX LEVELS OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

(ETHICS OF JUSTICE/RIGHTS)

A.  PRE-CONVENTIONAL LEVEL

STAGE 1:  Deferring to authority

STAGE 2:  Learning to satisfy one’s own needs.

B.  CONVENTIONAL LEVEL

STAGE 3:  Conforming to stereotypical roles.

STAGE 4:  Sense that individual roles contribute to social order.

C.  POST-CONVENTIONAL LEVEL

STAGE 5:  Morality thought of in terms of rights and standards endorsed by society as a whole.

STAGE 6:  Morality thought of as self-chosen, universal principles of justice.

     On Kohlberg's model, moral development is the development of an autonomous self, capable of being motivated by abstract principles understood as a kind of "mathematical" solution to conflicts of interests.
GILLIGAN'S SIX STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT (ETHICS OF CARE)

A.  PRE-CONVENTIONAL LEVEL

STAGE 1:  Caring for the self.

STAGE 2:  Stage 1 concern judged to be selfish.

B.  CONVENTIONAL LEVEL

STAGE 3:  Goodness is caring for others, frequently equated with self-sacrifice.

STAGE 4:  Illogic of the inequality between self and others becomes evident.  Search for equilibrium.

C.  POST-CONVENTIONAL LEVEL

STAGE 5:  Focus on the dynamics of relationships, to eliminate the tension between self and others. 

STAGE 6:  Care is extended beyond personal relationships to a general recognition of the interdependence of self and other, accompanied by a universal condemnation of exploitation and hurt.

     On Gilligan's model, moral development is the development of a self-in-relation.  Morality is understood in terms of the preservation of valuable human relations.  Progress from stage to stage is motivated by increasing understanding of human relationships.

CHARACTERISIC FEATURES OF THE JUSTICE PERSPECTIVE

PARADIGM:  CONTRACTS

EMPHASIS ON:

1.  REASON and LOGIC

2.  EXPLICIT PRINCIPLES

3.  IMPARTIALITY

4.  FAIRNESS

5.  AUTONOMY

6.  RIGHTS/OBLIGATIONS

7.  GOVERNS RELATIONS      AMONG EQUALS

8.  COMPETITION (CONFLICTING      INTERESTS)

9.  SELF-RELIANCE

CHARACTERISIC FEATURES OF THE CARE PERSPECTIVE

PARADIGM:  CARING RELATIONSHIP (e.g. Parent-Child Relationship)

EMPHASIS ON: 

1.  EMOTIONS

2.  RESPONSIVENESS TO      SITUATIONS

3.  PARTIALITY

4.  COMPASSION, SYMPATHY OR      EMPATHY

5.  INTER-CONNECTEDNESS

6.  RESPONSIBILITIES

7.  GOVERNS RELATIONS AMONG      UNEQUALS

8.  COOPERATION (COMMON INTERESTS)

9.  TRUST

Gilligan's Empirical Results

Primary Focus

	Justice	Care	Both
Men	2/3	[1]	1/3
Women	1/3	1/3	1/3

From Gilligan (25).