Heinz Final Notes
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The Heinz Dilemma
How would you respond if faced with this dilemma?
Regardless of
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development and all the other elements of what this situation represents, when you strip it all away, what you have is one man who has a wife who is dying whom he loves and has loved for several years. You have a situation in the midst of everything else that could resolve this, which in turn will save her life. Most men would sacrifice
their own lives to save their wives and or their children in a similar situation, I know that without
hesitation, I would. Certainly, most men would do whatever it took to save their partner or wife if
it were something that was humanly possible such as breaking into a laboratory and stealing some medications. The consequence to them, under those circumstances, would probably not even be a thought in the process. In consideration of Kohlberg and his Theory of Moral Development, we also have what would be considered the bigger picture. In that situation, Mr. Heinz would first have to verify with the doctors how much time he would realistically have to seek out other options for securing the amount of money that the druggist is asking for. While there are many options for Heinz to search out, the greatest majority is not going to be realistic due to, the time it would take to complete the process of getting help or securing the funds. Options to consider are setting up a “Go Fund Me Page” fundraiser on the internet. People are usually very willing to help, and, in many situations, those fundraisers act quickly—a second mortgage on the home and other family
members who might help. Get various small loans on items that you might own where they could
be used as collateral. Asking local radio and television programs to announce the situation and ask them to ask the community for help also. There are also a number of local government agencies that have small funds set aside in order to help people within their communities in situations just like Heinz's. There are many ways to generate funds if you have the time to work them out. One last thought on the matter would be a call to the Attorney General's office since most states cannot hike prices on items when the business community knows there is a great need. I also believe a call to the National Association that governs the oversight of Drug Stores might also help. I am sure they would be interested in the Druggist who is causing all the issues.
There are also professional associations that govern the licensing of Pharmacists, especially when there is abuse going on in the situation. Even though stealing is wrong, in this context, I would be a supporter of Mr. Heinz. There are values that make us who we are as human beings. Here the druggist shows no moral consideration for anything or anybody except himself and his bank account. He has invented medicine for profit only, not for the betterment of man and society. In conclusion, for the issues named in the Heinz matter, I am a supporter of his actions.
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development and the Heinz Dilemma scenario.
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development is a psychological theory proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg in the 1950s and 1960s. Created while studying psychology at the University of Chicago, it was inspired when he became fascinated with children's reactions to moral dilemmas through the work of Jean Piaget. He wrote his doctoral dissertation there in 1958, outlining what are now known as his stages of moral development.
The stages of moral development explain how individuals develop their moral reasoning abilities and make decisions based on ethical dilemmas. The Heinz dilemma, often used as an example in the theory, presents a situation where Heinz must decide whether to break into a laboratory to steal a drug that could save his wife's life. First and foremost, there are many considerations concerning the plight of Mr. Heinz and the fear
of his wife's prognosis without the proper medication.
There are some values that make us humans. We are social creatures, which means to live in a group and support one another. Kohlberg's stages of moral development
hold that moral reasoning, which is the basis for ethical behavior, has six identifiable developmental stages.
Kohlberg used stories about moral dilemmas in his studies and was interested in how people would act if they were put in a similar moral crux. He would then categorize and classify evoked responses into one of six distinct stages. These six stages were broken into three levels: pre-
conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. His theory is based on constructive developmental stages; each stage and level are more adequate at responding to moral dilemmas than the last.
The first
is the pre-conventional level, which encompasses the first and second stages of moral development and is purely concerned with the self. At this level, individuals are primarily motivated by external factors, such as rewards and punishments. Their moral reasoning is focused on self-interest and avoiding negative consequences.
The second
level of moral development is the conventional level, which includes stages three and four. The conventional level of moral reasoning is typical of adolescents and adults.
At this level, individuals start to consider the expectations and norms of society when making moral decisions. They value conformity and seek to maintain social order and approval. Moral reasoning becomes more focused on the perspectives of others and the avoidance of guilt or disapproval.
The third level
of moral development is the post-conventional level, comprising stages five and six. At this level, individuals develop their own moral principles based on abstract concepts of justice, human rights, and social contracts. They are capable of transcending societal norms and making decisions based on ethical principles that may go against existing laws or social conventions. If Heinz operated at the post-conventional level, his decision-making process would
involve considering broader social and ethical implications. He might evaluate the fairness and justice of the situation, considering the potential consequences for all parties involved (Zhang & Hu, 2017).
I would categorize myself as belonging to the traditional stage of moral growth based on my history and my own life experiences. When making decisions, I usually take relationships, upholding societal standards, and preserving harmony into account. I think I have a place in both the pre-conventional and post-conventional phases of moral growth, even if the conventional stage may be my main stage. Many times, I will put my own interests and preferences ahead of rigorous deference to authority or standards. Based on Kohlberg's theory, Heinz would likely be considered at the pre-conventional level of moral development. At this stage, individuals are guided by external rules and punishments or rewards. In this case, Heinz is faced with the moral dilemma of whether to break the law to save his wife's life. He weighs the potential consequences of his actions, including the punishment he
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may face for breaking into the laboratory, against the potential benefits of saving his wife's life. Ultimately, he decides to break into the laboratory and steal the drug, indicating that he has chosen the option that offers the greatest potential benefits.
Some critics of Kohlberg's theory argue that it oversimplifies the complexity of moral development and does not account for the diversity of individual experiences and perspectives. Some argue that Kohlberg's theory is too focused on individual moral reasoning and does not consider the social and cultural factors that shape moral development. Additionally, some argue that Kohlberg's theory does not adequately account for the role of emotions and values in moral decision-making (Zhang & Hu, 2017).
How might your response to this dilemma have changed if you were in a different stage of moral development?
The response to the dilemma would have changed depending on the stage of moral development because different stages of moral development prioritize different ethical principles. In this case, the individual's response indicates a concern for breaking the law and avoiding personal consequences, such as being prosecuted. This suggests a stage of moral development that is focused on maintaining social order and avoiding punishment.
Should Heinz have broken into the laboratory to steal the drug for his wife?
Under no circumstances should Heinz have stolen the medicine for his wife, in truth. He has made himself vulnerable to the authorities for not only stealing the medication but, for breaking into the laboratory and for any other damage that might have taken place in the process.
There is also the risk that he might secure the wrong medication, which could make his wife's situation even worse. It is also possible that he could have been exposed to chemicals that are a danger to Humans.
Link: This is a link that will take you to the actual Video of Moral Development, which was a takeoff of Milgram's classic experiment. I watched it, and it was very interesting. Sorry to say that there is a charge of $2.63, which gives you 48 hours of streaming. This is a copy of the real experiment.
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/moraldevelopment
Link #2: I have added this link for educational purposes. It is a great guide and goes int detail dealing with the Theory development and is done in a basic format as well.
https://www.verywellmind.com/kohlbergs-theory-of-moral-development-2795071
References:
Zhang, Q., & Hu, Z. (2017). An Analytical overview of Kohlberg’s theory of moral development in college moral education in mainland China. Open Journal of Social Sciences
, 05
(08), 151–
160. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2017.58012