THE MORAL

AGENT
SHELA MAY S. SOLMAYOR, RSW
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 OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the session, the students will be able to:

● Define moral agent;

● Discuss the 6 stages of moral development of
Kohlberg; and
● Integrate the Heinz’ Dilemma in the stages of moral
development.
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 HUMAN

01 BEING AS
MORAL
AGENT
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 MORAL
-Comes from the Latin “mores” meaning
society’s patterns, standards, rules of doings.

AGENT
-Comes from the Latin “agere” meaning to do, act.
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 MORAL AGENT
- A being who is capable of those actions that have
moral quality and which can be properly denominated
good or evil in a moral sense.
- Only moral agent is capable of human acts.
- His act is moral if it realizes his potentials and brings
him nearer to this goal in life, immoral if it deviates
from it.
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 STAGES OF
02 MORAL
DEVELOPMENT
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 OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the session, the students will be able to:

● Discuss the 6 stages of moral development of

Kohlberg; and
● Integrate the Heinz’ Dilemma in the stages of moral
development.
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 MORAL DEVELOPMENT
-refers to the process through which a human person
gains his/her beliefs, skills, and dispositions that
make him/her a morally mature person.
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 Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral
Development
● a comprehensive stage theory of moral development
based on Jean Piaget’s theory of moral judgment for
children (1932) and developed by Kohlberg in 1958.
Cognitive in nature, Kohlberg’s theory focuses on the
thinking process that occurs when one decides whether
a behavior is right or wrong. Thus, the theoretical
emphasis is one how one decides to respond to a moral
dilemma, not what one decides or what one actually
does.
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 “
In Europe, a woman was a near death from a special kind of cancer.
There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a
form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently
discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was
charging ten times what the drug cost him to make. He paid 200
dollars for the radium and charged 2,000 dollars for a small dose of
the drug. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he
knew to borrow the money, but he could only get together about
1,000 dollars which is half of the what it cost. He told the druggist
that his wife was dying and aksed him to sell it cheaper or let him
pay later. But the druggist said “No, I discovered the drug and I’m
going to make money from it.” So, Heinz got desperate and broke
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into the man’s store to steal the drug for his wife.
 “
Question: If you were in the situation of Heinz, would
you steal the drug or not? State your reason.
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 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG’S STAGES OF
MORAL DEVELOPMENT
LEVEL 1: PRE-CONVENTIONAL MORALITY
Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation
Stage 2: Instrumental Orientation
LEVEL 2: CONVENTIONAL MORALITY
Stage 3: Good boy/Nice girl Orientation
Stage 4: Law and Order Orientation
LEVEL 3: POST-CONVENTIONAL MORALITY
Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation
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Stage 6: Universal, ethical, principle orientation

 LEVEL 1: PRE-CONVENTIONAL
MORALITY
Children don’t have personal code of morality. Their
moral code is controlled by the standards of adults and
consequences of following or breaking adult’s rules.
Authority is outside the individual and reasoning is
based on the physical consequences of actions.
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 Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment
Orientation
The individual does good in order to avoid being punished.
Children obey because adults tell them to obey. Moral
decisions are based on fear of punishment.
Stage 2: Instrumental Orientation
Right behavior is defined by whatever the individual
believes to be in his/her best interest. There is a limited
interest in the needs of others, only to the point where it
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might further the individual’s own interests.

 “
• Stage one (obedience): Heinz should not steal the medicine
because he will consequently be put in prison which will mean he is
a bad person. OR Heinz should steal the medicine because it is
only worth $200 and not how much the druggist wanted for it; Heinz
had even offered to pay for it and was not stealing anything else.

Stage two (self-interest): Heinz should steal the medicine because

he will be much happier if he saves his wife, even if he will have to
serve a prison sentence. OR Heinz should not steal the medicine
because prison is an awful place, and he would more likely languish
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in a jail cell than over his wife’s death.

 LEVEL 2: CONVENTIONAL
MORALITY
A child’s sense of morality is tied to personal and
societal relationships. Children continue to accept the
rules of authority figures, but this is due to their belief
that this is necessary to ensure positive relationships
and societal order.
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 Stage 3: Good boy, Nice Girl
Orientation
Children want approval of others and act in ways to avoid
disapproval. Emphasis is placed on good behavior and
people being “nice” to others. The individual is good in
order to be seen as being a good person by others.

Stage 4: Law and Order Orientation

The individual become aware of the wider rules of society,
so judgments concern obeying rules in order to uphold the
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law and to avoid guilt.

 “
Stage three (conformity): Heinz should steal the medicine because
his wife expects it; he wants to be a good husband. OR Heinz should
not steal the drug because stealing is bad and he is not a criminal;
he has tried to do everything he can without breaking the law, you
cannot blame him.

Stage four (law-and-order): Heinz should not steal the medicine

because the law prohibits stealing, making it illegal. OR Heinz
should steal the drug for his wife but also take the prescribed
punishment for the crime as well as paying the druggist what he is
owed. Criminals cannot just run around without regard for the law;
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actions have consequences.

 LEVEL 3: POST-CONVENTIONAL
MORALITY
Morality is completely internalized and not based on
external standards. Individual judgment is based on self-
chosen principles and moral reasoning is based on
individual rights and justice.
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 Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation
The individual becomes aware that while rules/laws exist
for the good of the greatest number, there are times when
they will work against the interest of particular individuals.
They reason out that values, rights, and principles
transcend the law.
Stage 6: Universal, ethical, principle
Orientation
Individuals developed their own set of moral guidelines
which may or may not fit the law. They have developed
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moral judgements that are based on universal human

rights.
 “
•
Stage five (social contract orientation): Heinz should steal the
medicine because everyone has a right to choose life, regardless
of the law. OR Heinz should not steal the medicine because the
scientist has a right to fair compensation. Even if his wife is sick, it
does not make his actions right.

Stage six (universal human ethics): Heinz should steal the

medicine, because saving a human life is a more fundamental value
than the property rights of another person. OR Heinz should not
steal the medicine, because others may need the medicine just as
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badly, and their lives are equally significant.

 ASSESSNMENT: Give reasons why
\

students cheat and don’t cheat. Classify

the given reasons based on Kohlberg’s 6
stages
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 03
DEVELOPMENT
OF MORAL
CHARACTER
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 MORAL CHARACTER

Is an evaluation of an individual’s stable moral

qualities. The concept of character can imply
variety of attributes including existence or lack of
virtues such as empathy, courage, fortitude,
honesty, and loyalty, or of good behaviors or
habits.
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 MORAL CHARACTER

Refers to the assemblage of qualities that

distinguish one individual from another, the set of
moral behaviors to which a social group adheres
can be said to unite and define it culturally as
distinct from others.
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 IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A STRONG
MORAL CHARACTER
1. Achieve peace of mind
They take great pride in knowing that their
intentions and actions are honorable.
2. Strengthen trust
People with character enjoy meaningful relationships
based on openness, honesty, and mutual respect.
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 IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A STRONG
MORAL CHARACTER
3. Build strong reputation
People with character command a rock-solid
reputation.
4. Reduce anxiety
People with character carry less baggage.
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 IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A STRONG
MORAL CHARACTER
5. Increase leadership effectiveness
Leaders with character are highly effective.

6. Build confidence
People with character don’t worry about
embarrassment if their actions are publicly disclosed.
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 IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A STRONG
MORAL CHARACTER
7. Become a positive role model
People with character set the standard for excellence.

8. Live a purpose-driven life

People with character live a life they can be proud of.
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 DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL
CHARACTER
1. DEFINE YOUR CORE VALUES
Know what is most important to you by determining
your values for your professional and personal life.

2. PRACTICE THE HABITS

Pick one or two of the traits of good character to
practice for several weeks.
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 DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL
CHARACTER
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3. FIND PEOPLE WITH CHARACTER
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Surround yourself with people who reflect the

character traits you want to embrace.
4. TAKE SOME RISKS
Start taking small actions toward a goal or value that
involve some level of risk.
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 DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL
CHARACTER
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Create high standards and big goals for yourself.

6. COMMIT TO SELF-IMPROVEMENT
Realize that building your character is a life-long
endeavor.
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 Thank you!
Do you have any questions?
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