Selflessness: Congruences between the Cognitive–Developmental Research Program and the Bahá’í Writings

Abstract

This article aims to illustrate four major concepts shared by the protagonists of cognitive-developmentalism, such as Piaget, Kohlberg, and Kegan, and the primary authors of the sacred writings of the Bahá’í Faith—Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi. These concepts include: a developmental teleology, the stage-like nature of development, the importance of an epistemic focus, and selflessness. As the Bahá’í teachings stress a developmental approach to self and a universal approach to moral education, and as the Faith is rapidly growing, it would be helpful for psychologists and educators a universal approach to moral education, and as the Faith is rapidly growing, it would be helpful for psychologists and educators to become familiar with a Bahá’í view of development. Additionally, as the Bahá’í writings stress access to science, it will be beneficial for Bahá’í readers to become acquainted with the cognitive-developmental research program as an important body of psychological literature that can help inform their own understanding of their sacred writings. It is intended that this article chart an avenue of communication for psychologists with members of a “post-modern” religion over topics of mutual interest (cf. Laszlo, “Humankind’s” and Inner Limits).