Vulnerability is an essential category of the condition of human existence. In a close correlation with the principle of autonomy, it is a fundamental aspect for reflection on the ethical dimension of educative intervention, in a context of globalization. This reflection is supported by the articulation between the authors Freire, Dussel and Kohlberg, based on reflection on educative intervention, with appeal to issues of moral education which involve concepts of autonomy and vulnerability, their implications for living in a group, community and society, in a specific culture, and the social relevance of these concepts for understanding the educative intervention aimed at training people for autonomy.