ABSTRACT
When Joseph Campbell describes the varied quests undertaken in myth and legend, he notes that the first step is always one of initiation of the hero to prepare for the journey ahead; and the most difficult part of that initiation, Campbell says, is overcoming the hero's absorption in selfish interests that stand in the way of striving for a higher goal. These steps of moral development are reasonably close to those described by developmental psychologists, like Piaget. These feelings—of empathy and fairness—represent the beginning of what later will be a conscience, and they can be developed or stunted by what parents do in the early years. The ultimate motivator in ethics is a form of idealism, a striving to find meaning in life that transcends one's own narrow concerns. There is now widespread agreement among experts that normal moral development in the early years requires firm parental authority of this sort, along with a stable environment, and clear, consistent direction.
