MJAAR

The Isolated Philosopher-King: A Critique of the Asocial Individualism in Kohlberg’s Post-Conventional Morality

Dr. Arinaitwe Julius, Dr. Ariyo Gracious Kazaara


Abstract

This study critically examined the asocial individualism embedded in Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development, particularly his conception of post-conventional morality as the apex of moral maturity characterized by autonomous, principle-based reasoning detached from social conventions and relationships. Through a mixedmethods critical theoretical approach, the research employed systematic philosophical analysis of Kohlberg's Kantian and liberal individualist foundations alongside comprehensive empirical investigation utilizing meta-analysis of 847 cross-cultural studies spanning 62 countries. Quantitative analyses included univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate tests (chi-square, independent samples t-tests, Spearman correlations), and structural equation modeling comparing Kohlberg's unidimensional hierarchical model against alternative multidimensional specifications. Qualitative data from 45 interviews and 23 focus groups with moral educators across diverse cultural contexts supplemented the quantitative findings. Results revealed significant cultural differences in stage distribution (χ²=186.34, p

Keywords

Kohlberg’s Post-Conventional Morality
Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research

Cite This Article

Dr. Arinaitwe Julius & Dr. Ariyo Gracious Kazaara (2026). The Isolated Philosopher-King: A Critique of the Asocial Individualism in Kohlberg’s Post-Conventional Morality. Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research, 5(2). https://journals.miu.ac.ug/pages/article.php?article_id=143

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