Case:

One of the best known of Kohlberg’s (1958) stories for his theory of moral
development concerns a man called Heinz who lived somewhere in Europe. Heinz’s wife
was dying from a particular type of cancer. Doctors said a new drug might save her. The
drug had been discovered by a local chemist, and the Heinz tried desperately to buy
some, but the chemist was charging ten times the money it cost to make the drug, and
this was much more than the Heinz could afford. Heinz could only raise half the money,
even after help from family and friends. He explained to the chemist that his wife was
dying and asked if he could have the drug cheaper or pay the rest of the money later.
The chemist refused, saying that he had discovered the drug and was going to make
money from it. The husband was desperate to save his wife, so later that night he broke
into the chemist’s and stole the drug. If you are in Heinz’s situation, what will you do?
Explain and analyze your answer using Kohlberg’s theory of stages of moral
development.

Reflection Paper

If I will be Heinz, my decision would be base depending on the stage of moral

development I am in. If I am at the pre-conventional stage, I’d choose not to steal the
drug because I don’t want to break the law. And breaking the law means I would be put
to prison. If Heinz steal, he’ll be punished for the crime, which is an indication that he
did something wrong and is a bad person. Furthermore, knowing the environment in
the prison, it is an awful and terrifying place. Rather than outside helping his wife, he’ll
suffer there and grief if she dies. I believe he should focus more on the immediate
implications of his actions rather than breaking the law. In the pre-conventional level,
the standard of adults and the immediate consequences of obeying and violating the
laws influence people's moral judgements. Meanwhile, If I am at the conventional stage
of moral development, I will steal the drug because my wife expects it and I want to be
a good husband to her. Thus, the wife will benefit the most since she will be treated
from her cancer, but of course as the result of the crime Heinz did, he will be punished
accordingly and will still pay the scientist with what he owes. Moral decision-making in a
particular situation in our lives should be connected to both personal and societal
relationships. It is necessary that even though gaining the approval of others and living
up to the expectations of someone important, authority figures are still accepted and
followed. People in the conventional stage of moral development assess the morality of
actions by comparing them to society norms and expectations. And lastly, if I'm at the
post conventional stage of moral development, I'd rather steal the drug because
everyone, regardless of the law, has the freedom to choose life. Saving a human life, in
my opinion,
is a more fundamental value than another person's property rights. This would be a spur
of-the-moment choice that is not in accordance with the law. We consider the norms
imposed by society as necessary, but also as a changeable tool for ensuring the stability,
welfare, and life of the people under this decision. Heinz might be punished if he does it
in this circumstance, but he considers that it is the ethical thing to do rather than feeling
bad for not doing anything to save his wife's life. The post-conventional level is a moral
stage which examines the moral code and regulations provided by society. It speculates
on a number of laws, institutions, and their effects on society. It claims that there are no
longer any absolute rules or laws.
At the end of the day, the decision will be based on a person's current level of
morality. The Kohlberg Theory of Moral Development illustrates how a person will make
decisions based on the ethical ideals he cherishes and weighs more when faced with a
choice. Kohlberg's theory focuses not only on the action taken, but also on the set of
ethical values that motivate the person to make a given decision and do a specific thing.