> Received: from csf.Colorado.EDU by aim1.bus.ryerson.ca (Mercury 1.1); > Thu, 7 Mar 96 2:26:07 GMT+3 > Received: from host (LOCALHOST [127.0.0.1]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.6.11/8.6.9 > Received: from nohar.rcinet.com (nohar.rcinet.com [157.134.207.6]) by csf.Col > ado.edu>; Wed, 6 Mar 1996 20:00:13 -0700 > 5; Wed, 6 Mar 1996 22:00:04 -0500 (EST) > Received: from manny.rcinet.com(199.18.212.6) by nohar.rcinet.com via smap (V > 1.3) > id sma015718; Wed Mar 6 21:59:51 1996 > 7; Wed, 6 Mar 1996 21:59:47 -0500 (EST) > Received: from rcinet-242.rcinet.com(199.18.212.242) by manny.rcinet.com via > smap (V1.3) > id sma014925; Wed Mar 6 21:59:18 1996 > Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 21:59:47 -0500 (EST) > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Precedence: bulk > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Environmental Consciousness > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Content-Type: text/plain > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > X-Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > X-Mailer: SPRY Mail Version: 04.00.06.17 > X-Listprocessor-Version: 7.1 -- ListProcessor by CREN > X-PMFLAGS: 34078848 > > > Concerning the recent discussion of environmental consciousness and how we ha > ve > arrived at the states we now find ourselves in, I think many of you might be > > interested in the work of the psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg and his theory t > hat > there are characterological levels and stages that distinguish human behavior > . He > maintains that there are three levels of moral development (Preconventional, > > Conventional, and Postconventional Morality) and each has two stages. The > general population falls into the various stages along a traditional bell cur > ve on a > graphical chart. > > Stage 1: Obey rules to avoid punishment. > > Stage 2: Conform to obtain rewards, have favors returned, and so on. > > Stage 3: Conform to avoid disapproval or dislike by others. > > Stage 4: Conform to avoid censure by legitimate authorities and resultant > > guilt. > > Stage 5: Conform to maintain the respect of the self as an impartial > spectator, in terms of community welfare. > > Stage 6: Conform to advance self-chosen principles of universal benefit, > and to avoid self-condemnation for not doing so. > > > .13% of the general population fall into stage six morality, which is the lev > el that > displays a strong personal conscience and respect for universal values in rel > ation to > human society. The bulk of the population (68.26%) falls into stages 3-4. The > > Kohlbergian levels reflect stages of human morality and do not encompass ethi > cal > concern for non-human values, or recognize the inherent worth of all forms of > life, > and the matter from which they evolved, in my opinion. Therefore, people who > are > concerned about the environment at the elevated stages of consciousness are o > ff the > Kohlbergian chart and represent a very small fraction of the general populati > on. > Kohlberg raised the possibility of a seventh level in: > > Lawrence Kohlberg with Clark Power, "Moral Development, Religious Thinking, > and the Question of a Seventh Stage," chap. in The Philosophy of Moral > Development: Moral Stages and the Idea of Justice. San Francisco: Harper & Ro > w, > 1981. > > The issue of why some people arrive at the stage of serious consideration of > such > issues as ecofeminism and deep ecology is undoubtedly tied to genetic makeup > and > environmental experiences, but it also seems that some find their way on thei > r own, > while others need much help. > > Walter Pokines > Tipp City, Ohio > Walter: Your comments are interesting; and Kohlberg read with Carol Gilligan I've found more helpful - gender and genetics. Yolanda Coppolino, Toronto. >
