More sophisticated moral reasoning does not predict more humane conduct

Evidence

In actuality, moral conduct is too diverse, determined by too many factors, too situationally variable, and too selectively inextricable from self-sanctions to be adequately explained in terms of hierarchically categorized forms of reasoning. The stage progression in moral reasoning essentially marks increasingly sophisticated justifications for behavior in various moral predicaments. Higher levels of moral “maturity” do not necessarily foretell stronger commitment to humane conduct. This is because justifications, whatever their level, can be applied in the service of harmful activities as well as benevolent ones. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 199

Categorization

• XREF: Undercuts Kohlbergian reasoning-level approaches directly; corroborates the vault stance that sophisticated political/philosophical framing can rationalize harmful policy (Cooper’s social-conservatism argument). — connects to: Economic training cannot overcome intellectuals’ deep ethical preference for non-profit motives
• QUESTION: Does the author later cite empirical work showing stage-6 reasoners committing atrocities with sophisticated justifications?
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 199