Final answer:
Moral development is a lifelong endeavor aiming towards moral maturity, a state where individuals engage in ethical behavior and foster their moral personhood. According to Kohlberg's theory, this involves progressing through various stages of understanding, from basic to sophisticated moral reasoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Moral development is a lifelong process, with the objective of achieving moral maturity. Moral development is a critical aspect of socialization, helping to define what society considers to be "good" and "bad." According to Lawrence Kohlberg's theory, this development happens through various stages: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. Each stage represents a deeper understanding and sophistication in thinking about moral issues.
The pursuit of moral development is not merely about adhering to societal norms but rather is an ongoing process of moral inquiry, whereby individuals grow in ethical thinking and define their moral personhood. This process entails examining fundamental principles and values that guide behavior and conflict resolution. It thus seeks to achieve a state where individuals act ethically and responsibly, a state referred to as moral maturity.
While perfectionism in moral development is a concept explored in philosophical discourse, pointing towards self-improvement and reaching the highest attainable good, the term moral maturity better encapsulates the realistic end-goal of this developmental process in a societal context.