Who is known for proposing the theory of moral development?

Lawrence Kohlberg is recognized for proposing the theory of moral development, which outlines how individuals progress through different stages of moral reasoning. His work built upon Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development and introduced a framework that consists of three main levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional morality. Each level contains two stages that reflect differing approaches to ethics and decision-making.

Kohlberg's emphasis on justice and fairness as foundational aspects of moral reasoning and the empirical research he conducted, which involved moral dilemmas to assess individuals’ reasoning, has been influential in understanding how moral thought evolves throughout childhood and into adulthood. His theory has implications not only in psychology but also in education and moral philosophy.