Development of the Methodology of Modern Western Moral Education and a Review of the Previous Studies

Modern western moral education, in which respect is paid to educated who are instructed in a natural way and emphasis is laid on secularity and pragmaticality, has been greatly influenced by empiricism, positivism, utilitarianism and naturalism. Since Renaissance, moral education has been studied multi-disciplinarily and a variety of schools formed in this field, thereby being at its most vigorous. Theories and methods of moral education have been presented from different angles in pragmatic moral education theory, moral cognition development theory, the moral character education movement, social learning model, cognition development pattern, behaviorist pattern, pardon pattern and so forth. To our beneficial enlightenment, we must analyze West moral education process development characteristic and changes for purpose of exploring our country questions which exists in moral education method. Tracing thread of development in modern moral education theory and method and analyzing its features and transition will give us an insight into problems in China’s moral education, which will surely of great help to our exploration in this respect.