Heinz’s Dilemma

In my opinion Heinz was correct in breaking into the laboratory and stealing the drug. If we analyse it
through the Kohlberg’s moral development framework, I can see that the action of Heinz is right.

Pre-conventional Level: Heinz tried to convince the druggist to pay the amount when he had the
remaining amount available to him, but the druggist refused even though it was a matter of
someone’s life.

Conventional Level: It conforms to the expectations of being a good husband, also his wife must be
expecting him to do all that he can to save her life. He must accept the punishment that is meted out
to him by the authorities for stealing the drug and pay the druggist whatever is owed.

Post-Conventional: Saving the life of anyone is one of the biggest ethical duty of a human being
irrespective of the relation. The druggist is in the wrong here as he is only thinking as a businessman
and not thinking about the value of a human life and therefore, Heinz is not wrong here.

So, all the three levels of Kohlberg’s model tell us that Heinz is correct in stealing from the druggist.
Although this is also true that he must mete out the appropriate punishment for his deed.