Combining moral philosophy and moral reasoning: The PAVE moral reasoning strategy

The ability to reason well is central to the concept of intelligence, but intelligence alone will not guarantee morality. To recognise the ‘right’ choice and to judge our own and others’ actions, is to make an act of reason. To choose to value morality and to make the ‘right’ choice is an act of character. The link between intelligence and choice “makes the whole idea of morality possible in the first place...that’s ultimately why we hold people responsible for what they do – because their intelligence gives them the power to choose how they’ll behave” (White, 1988, p.72). This paper provides a moral reasoning strategy which may be useful to teachers. It is based on an understanding of Principles, Agreements, Virtues and End Consequences (PAVE).