ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to stimulate consideration of the problem by presenting an initial organizing scheme and framework. It highlights the need for more integrative considerations of moral argumentation. The chapter presents some research endeavors that are especially promising because of their integrative, multi-perspective orientations in the study of moral argumentation. Moral argumentation has been examined from a range of diverse psychological perspectives. One way to describe the Instrumental perspective is in terms of conflict resolution. In direct contrast to the Instrumental perspective on moral discussion, which tends to describe actual forms of moral argumentation, the Ethical perspective prescribes the ethically ideal form of moral argumentation. The Growth-Facilitative perspective treats moral argumentation as a process or catalyst. It is understood to be a condition for the growth of moral maturity. The developmental aspect of moral argumentation competence is probably the least developed of the four perspectives.
