postconventional moral reasoning

psychology

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July 1, 2026

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Postconventional moral reasoning, also known as principled moral reasoning, is the highest level in Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development. At this level, individuals move beyond societal rules and laws to make moral decisions based on abstract principles and universal values that apply to all situations and societies.1

This level is divided into two stages:
* Social contract orientation: Laws and rules are seen as flexible tools that can be changed if they do not serve human purposes or protect individual rights.1
* Universal ethical principle orientation: Morality is guided by one's conscience and self-chosen ethical principles that are abstract and universally applicable. This involves considering the perspective of everyone affected by a decision.1

Kohlberg's theory emphasizes the thinking process behind moral decisions rather than the decisions themselves.1

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human behaviour
A moral sense
…the third level, that of postconventional moral reasoning, the adult bases his moral standards on principles that he himself has evaluated and that he accepts as inherently valid, regardless of society’s opinion. He is aware of the arbitrary, subjective nature of social standards and rules, which he regards as relative…
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…the third level, that of postconventional moral reasoning, the adult bases his moral standards on principles that he himself has evaluated and that he accepts as inherently valid, regardless of society’s opinion. He is aware of the arbitrary, subjective nature of social standards and rules, which he regards as relative…
Read More