Kohlbergs theory of moral reasoning

1
Kohlbergs theory of moral reasoning

• A 3 level/5 stage theory that Kohlberg believed
  every person progresses through in sequential
  order
• Not everyone will reach the higher levels

2
A woman was 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 produce. He paid 200 for the radium
and charged 2,000 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, which is half of what
it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was
dying and asked 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."
3
Levels of Moral Reasoning

• 1 Preconventional Level (self-interest)
• Typically ages 2-6
• Stage 1 moral decisions based on fear of
  punishment
• Stage 2 satisfying ones own self interest
  (whats in it for me?)
• Example stage 1 do not steal the drug because
  you will go to jail meaning he is a bad person
• Example stage 2 Should steal because it will
  make him happy OR should not steal because he
  would not like prison

4
Levels of Moral Reasoning

• 2 Conventional Level (social approval)
• Typically 6-12
• Stage 3 moral decisions guided by conforming to
  the standards of others we value
• Stage 4 determined by conforming to laws of
  society (law and order)
• -Example stage 3 should steal because wife
  expects ithe wants to be a good husband.
• -Example stage 4 should NOT steal because it is
  illegal.

5
Levels of Moral Reasoning

• 3 Postconventional Level (abstract ideas)
• Teenage years and on (if attained)
• Stage 5 moral decisions made after carefully
  thinking about all the alternatives and striking
  a balance between human rights and laws of
  society (human rights)
• Example stage 5 Should steal because everyone
  has a right to choose life, despite the law. OR
  should not because the doctor has a right to get
  compensation