Question

Using the six stages of the moral development theory, explain why not steal a drug

Answer 1

Answer.

From a theoretical point of view, it is not important what the participant thinks that Heinz should do. Kohlberg's theory of moral development describes the progressive changes in people’s reasoning behind ethical principles and moral actions. Kohlberg used several examples of everyday actions involving the individuals to make ethical choices in several situations such as the Heinz dilemma about stealing drugs to save a loved one’s life. the justification that the participants offer in their response can give an assessment of the stage at which they are morally. Based on the responses, Kohlberg worked out that moral development has six stages:

• Stage one (obedience): at this stage, children are egocentric in their thinking and judge an action in absolute terms as either right or wrong. Thus, one can reason Heinz should not steal the medicine because he will consequently be put in prison which will mean he is a bad person.

• Stage two (self-interest): at this stage age, people argue about the morality or immorality of an action based on a hedonistic principle of pleasure and pain. Thus at this stage, one can argue that we can justify stealing the medicine because we will be much happier if we can save a loved one.

• Stage three (conformity): at this stage, the focus is on following the rules and expectations of significant others and choose actions out of obligation to behave in order to avoid rejection. Heinz should Thus steal the medicine because he is expected to be a good husband to his wife.

• Stage four (law-and-order): at this stage the focus is on social norms and duties based on which stealing the medicine would be immoral because the law prohibits stealing.

• Stage five (human rights): this is the post conventional stage of morality wherein the focus is on universal shared standards and principles of liberty, freedom and equality. Theft of a drug would thus be seen as ethical because everyone has a right to choose life, regardless of the law.

• Stage six (universal human ethics): this is the highest stage of moral development which involves choosing between different moral values according to specific contexts. In the case of stealing a drug to save life. Heinz should steal the medicine, because saving a human life is a more fundamental value than the property rights of the pharmacist.