Final answer:
Moral development encompasses engagement with moral principles and is influenced by societal factors and personal experiences. Kohlberg's theory outlines stages of this development, while evolutionary ethics considers habit and reflection as contributing factors. It's essential to distinguish between moral reasoning and actual moral behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Moral development requires certain conditions to occur; people must be morally engaged and educated in moral principles. In the process of moral inquiry, individuals develop their ethical thinking and define their moral personhood through involvement with society's laws, ethics, and social interactions. Lawrence Kohlberg's theory further explains that people evolve through different stages of moral development, progressing from preconventional to conventional, and potentially to postconventional stages. Moral reasoning, prompted by experience and reflection, contributes to understanding right from wrong and forms the basis of moral behavior, although it does not always align with actual behavior.
Studies in evolutionary ethics suggest that the moral nature of humans can develop through habits, example, instruction, reflection, and potentially the inheritance of virtuous tendencies. The advancement of reasoning and sympathetic understanding contribute to this progression of morale. It's important to recognize that differing situations may invoke various levels of moral reasoning, demonstrating that moral reasoning and moral behavior can sometimes diverge.