Relationship between ethics and economics in Islamic: Critical comparison of Kohlberg’s theory of moral development

Abstract

 
Moral development is a process leading to improvement of moral standards such as moral reasoning and attitude, moral emotions, internalization of moral principles and practical commitment to moral norms. Among the prevalent views on moral development is Kohlberg’s view. In the present study, while accepting his theoretical framework (six-stage system for development of moral reasoning), we have dealt with exploring the relationship between this type of development and development of economic utilities (production, distribution and accumulation of wealth). This study is a library research and has been conducted using written documents. The main question is as follows: “What is the relationship between mechanism and stages of development of moral reasoning and judgment on the one hand and individuals’ favorable economic performance on the other hand?” This relationship has been studied in a reciprocal way (mutual effect). The results of the research show that the stages of moral development have a direct relationship with the indexes of economic development. Some stages of development, however, require the attachment of a certain public culture pack so that the aforementioned relationship may be established. On the other hand, promotion of economic conditions (production of refined wealth and just distribution of it) prepares the ground for moral development in Kohlberg’s view. Here, Islamic ethics - both on maximum and minimum levels - not only avoids encouragement of despicable austerity but also prepares the ground for economic development.

Keywords

References

  1.  

    1. The Holy Quran, (1994), translated by Fooladvand, M. Tehran: Daftar Motaleaat Tarikh va Maahref Islami (Arabic).
    2. Sahifeh Sajjadieh.
    3. Amedi Tamimi, A. (1989), Qorar al-Hekam va Dorar Al-Kalem, Tehran: Dar al-Kotob al-Islami
    4. Dadgar, Y. (2004), The history of evolntions of economic thought, Qom: Mofid University.
    5. Dadgar, Y. & Teymori, R. (2007), The fundamentals and principles of economics, Qom: Boostan ketab.
    6. Haidt, J. (2001), “the emotional dog and its rational tail: A social intuitionist approach to moral judgment”, Psychological Review, Vol. 108. No.4, pp. 814-834
    7. Hastings, Paul D., Zahn-Waxler, C. & McShane, K. (2010), "We are by nature moral creatures", Translated by Sayed Rahim Rastitabar, in Handbook of Moral development, Qom, Islamic sciences and culture faculty.
    8. Helayner, K. F. (2002), Moral qualification of economic growth, translated by Ahmad Tadayyon & Shahin Ahmadi, in Moral qualification of economic growth, Tehran: Hermes.
    9. Kadiwar, Parwin (1999), Moral psychology, Tehran: Agah.
    10. Kohlberg, L. & Hersh, Richard H. (1977), “moral development: a review of the theory”, Theory and Practice, moral development, Vol.16, No.2, pp. 53-59, Taylor & Francis, Ltd
    11. Kohlberg, L. (1981), “From is to ought: How to commit the naturalistic fallacy and get away with it in the study of moral development” in The philosophy of moral development by L. Kohlberg, harper & row publisher, San Francisco
    12. Koleyni, M. (1996), al-Kafi, Tehran: Dar al-Kotob al-Islamiya.
    13. Lehrer, Jonah (2010), How we dicide?, translated by Asghar Andarudi, Tehran: Dayereh.
    14. Majlesi, M. (n.d.), Behar al-Anvar, Beirut: Moaseseh Al-wafa.
    15. Mohammad Alikhani, S., Asefzadeh, S., Mohebbifar, R. & Montazeri, A. (2012), “Sthdy of Human Development Index (HDI) in Iran and selected countries”, Payesh, Year 15, No.4.
    16. Motahhari, m. (n.d.), Majmoueh Athar, Vol.16, Tehran: Sadra.
    17. Piaget, J. (2000), the moral judgment of children, translated by Mohammad Ali Amiri, Tehran: Ney.
    18. Qani Nejad, M. (1993a), “Ethics and economics”, No.67-68
    19. Qani Nejad, M. (1993b), “Another word in Ethics and economics”, Ettelaat Siasi wa Eqtesadi, No.73-74.
    20. Schultz, Duane & Schultz, Sydney Ellen (2009), Theories of personality, translated by Yahya Seyed Mohammadi, Tehran: Wirayesh.
    21. Sharifi, A. (2004), “Moral contractim”, Maaref, No.22-23.
    22. Snarey, John & Samuelson, Peter (2008), “moral education in the cognitive developmental tradition: Lawrence Kohlberg’s revolutionary ideas”, in Larry Nucci & Darcia Narvaez (eds.) Handbook of Moral and Character Education (Ch. 4, pp. 53-79), Routledge.
    23. Walker, Lawrence J. (2010), “Gender and Morality”, translated by mohammadreza Jahangirzadeh, in Handbook of Moral development, Qom: Pajoheshghah OlOm va Farhangh Islami.
    24. Werhane, Patricia H. and Freeman, R. Edward (2003), Business Ethics, in R. G. Frey and Christopher Heath Wellman (Eds.) "A Companion to Applied Ethics", Blackwell.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 21 May 2019
  • Revise Date: 23 June 2019
  • Accept Date: 09 May 2020

Share

How to cite

Statistics