Ethical and Moral Reasoning

Ethical and moral reasoning is a form of decision making in general. The larger question becomes “Is ethical decision making universal, culturally determined, or culturally influenced?” And the question behind that question is “Is ethics hardwired and genetic, or is it something simply learned?” This is the classic nature–nurture debate that philosophers have discussed for millennia. However, nowadays many psychologists believe that morality is at least partly innate. This entry begins with a discussion of the development and practice of ethical reasoning and goes on to explain Lawrence Kohlberg’s six stages of moral development. Intercultural concepts such as individualism versus collectivism and high versus low power distance (HPD vs. LPD) are explained within the context of moral and ethical reasoning.

Some evidence points to the fact ...