Kohlberg's Moral Theory analyzes the reasons we make moral desisions and how me shape our morality. He believes that there are three stages of moral desisions: Preconventional, Conventional, and Post Conventional.
Preconventional- Based in what feels right, pleasure over pain. As a baby you watch the reactions of those around you to determine if what you are doing is right. If a baby encounters pain when making a decision it will no longer make that desision. EXAMPLE: Galum from Lord of the Rings. Galum constantly gives into the pleasure he gets when he is united with the Ring. He makes most of his desisions based on his yerning to feel that pleasure again. When Frodo treats Galum nicely, Galum makes desisions to satisfy 'Master' but the second he inflicts pain upon Galum he immediately feels the urge to rebel against 'master's' will.
Preconventional- Based in what feels right, pleasure over pain. As a baby you watch the reactions of those around you to determine if what you are doing is right. If a baby encounters pain when making a decision it will no longer make that desision. EXAMPLE: Galum from Lord of the Rings. Galum constantly gives into the pleasure he gets when he is united with the Ring. He makes most of his desisions based on his yerning to feel that pleasure again. When Frodo treats Galum nicely, Galum makes desisions to satisfy 'Master' but the second he inflicts pain upon Galum he immediately feels the urge to rebel against 'master's' will.
Conventional- Rules and Normalities determine morality. This is more of the monkey see-monkey do morality. People acting under this kind of morality most often forsee a benefit of behaving in this manner. This morality is generally affiliated with any age after 6 years of age. EXAMPLE: Frodo takes the Ring across middle earth because that is the expectation. Middle Earth celebrates bravery and harmony. Frodo, by taking the Ring to Mount Doom, is acting Conventionally because he is working under foreign expection and the drive of self inportance.
Postconventional- Morality is based on abstract principles. Kohlberg leaves this catagory merely to people who inflict unmountable pain on themselves or martyrs. People in this category are willing to put themselves in the worst danger to make a statement or serve something that they believe is above them. EXAMPLE: Tibetian Buddhist Munk throwing himself into fire to protest Chinese opression. Most people cannot understand why he would do such a thing even though he explained before hand. His suicide is not understood by those living conventionally.
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