Moral Development in Confucian Traditions

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Questions and Answers

What is the core idea behind moral characters in terms of dispositions?

Having rational, informed, stable, and reliable dispositions

In Confucian traditions, what is the concept of personality?

An achieved state of moral excellence

What are the 'Four Beginnings' in Confucian traditions?

Heart of compassion, heart of righteousness, heart of propriety, and heart of wisdom

What does Yi refer to in Confucian traditions?

Righteousness and respect of duty Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of virtue ethics?

Quality of the person Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between Zhi and the other three beginnings?

Zhi is a product of practicing Jen, Yi, and Li Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of self in Confucian traditions?

A potential self or 'pre-self' Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of virtue ethics in evaluating actions?

The quality of the person performing the action Signup and view all the answers

What does Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean advocate for?

Behaving in accordance with the situation's demands Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of human life according to virtue ethics?

Eudaimonia, or happiness and well-being Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the virtuous person according to Aristotle?

Aligning inclinations and desires with rational principle Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of virtue ethics?

Whether the person is acting virtuously Signup and view all the answers

Who is largely identified with virtue ethics?

Aristotle Signup and view all the answers

At which stage of moral development does the child base judgment on external consequences?

Pre-Conventional morality Signup and view all the answers

According to Aristotle, what is the result of focusing on being a good person?

The right actions will follow effortlessly Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal at the Punishment-Obedience Orientation stage?

Avoiding punishment Signup and view all the answers

What does Aristotle believe is the essence of humans?

Proper functioning Signup and view all the answers

What occurs as children grow older in the Reward Orientation stage?

They realize there is room for negotiation Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'good person' according to Aristotle?

Someone who fulfills their natural and rational functions Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Stage 1 of Kohlberg's Theory?

Focus on external consequences Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of virtuous behavior according to Aristotle?

The Doctrine of the Golden Mean Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of judgment at the Pre-Conventional morality level?

The self Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of practicing the golden mean?

Good behavior will come naturally in time Signup and view all the answers

At what level of moral reasoning do individuals focus on following rules and maintaining law and order?

Level II Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of conventional morality?

Society's views and expectations Signup and view all the answers

At which stage do individuals start to understand concepts like loyalty, trust, and gratitude?

Stage 3 Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the focus on others' expectations in Level II?

Tyranny of the They Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of post-conventional individuals?

They view rules and laws as changeable mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

In which level of moral reasoning do individuals prioritize their own perspective over society's views?

Level III Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of individuals in the 'principled level'?

They consider personal principles when making judgments Signup and view all the answers

In which stage do individuals usually consider society as a whole when making judgments?

Stage 4 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary understanding of an individual at the Social Contract Orientation stage?

Personal beliefs and social group values influence moral judgments Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of decision-making at the Social Contract Orientation stage?

To benefit the greater good for the most number of people Signup and view all the answers

What is the best example of the Social Contract Orientation stage?

A democratic form of government Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of an individual at the Ethical-Principle Orientation stage?

They make a personal commitment to uphold universal principles Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis of judgment at the Ethical-Principle Orientation stage?

Abstract reasoning and empathy Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the social contract and personal principles at the Ethical-Principle Orientation stage?

The social contract takes a clear back seat to personal principles Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Moral Characters

Moral characters refer to dispositions or tendencies to act or think in a particular way for which a person can be held morally responsible.
They are rational, informed, stable, and reliable dispositions.

Confucian Traditions

In Confucian traditions, moral development is attributed to the "Four Beginnings" of the human personality.
These four beginnings are seeds of human personality that will naturally unfold to become human activities.
The four beginnings are: • The heart of compassion, leading to Jen (goodwill, sympathy, generosity) • The heart of righteousness, leading to Yi (respect for duty, respect for nature and humanity) • The heart of propriety, leading to Li (outward behavior, etiquette, customs) • The heart of wisdom, leading to Zhi (wisdom from practicing Jen, Yi, and Li)

Aristotle and Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics focuses on the quality of the person rather than actions or consequences.
Aristotle believed that each person has a built-in desire to be virtuous and that a person needs to fulfill their natural function.
A person is good if they fulfill what nature expects of them, including rationality, social behavior, and living in accordance with reason and living well.
Virtue is equivalent to excellence, and a virtuous person is someone who performs the distinctive activity of being human well.
The Doctrine of the Golden Mean states that moral behavior is the middle ground between two extreme behaviors.
Aristotle's ethics is based on the concept of eudaimonia (happiness, well-being, or the good life), which is achieved through practicing virtues.

Kohlberg's Theory

Level I: Pre-Conventional Morality • Judgment is focused on the self, and decision-making is based on external consequences. • Stage 1: Punishment-Obedience Orientation (avoiding punishment) • Stage 2: Reward Orientation (behavior based on personal gain)
Level II: Conventional Morality • Reasoning is based on society's rules and expectations. • Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl Orientation (seeking approval from others) • Stage 4: Authority Orientation (following rules and respecting authority)
Level III: Post-Conventional Morality • Individuals prioritize their own perspective over societal expectations. • Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation (laws as a social contract to promote universal values) • Stage 6: Ethical-Principle Orientation (personal commitment to universal principles of equal rights and respect)

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