Kohlberg

Created by

Zoe

Cards (10)

'conscience is a behaviour developed through social interaction'
What were his three stages of moral development?
pre-conventional level
conventional level
post-conventional level
What is the pre-conventional level?
begins with the 'punishment and obedience' stage
our understanding of right and wrong is that right is rewarded and wrong is what we are punished for
What is the conventional level?
begins with the development of good interpersonal relationships
concludes with the decision to obey society's rules and thus avoiding guilt
many never get past this stage
What is the post-conventional stage?
begins with a utilitarian approach - where needs of individual and society conflict, society's benefit is prioritised
final stage: level of individualised conscience
conscience directs that moral choices must be consistent and universalisable (applicable to everyone)
to go against it leads to feelings of guilt so will be followed even if it leads to imprisonment
What is the Heinz dilemma?
woman near-death from cancer
drug may save her - charging huge amount
husband can't afford so asks to lower the price
offer refused
broke into the store and stole the drug
How would the pre-conventional level respond to the dilemma?
should not steal the drug
stealing is wrong
results in imprisonment
How would the conventional level respond to the dilemma?
should steal the drug
everyone has a right to life
therefore everyone has an equal right to treatment
How would the post-conventional level respond to the dilemma?
reason that theft is always wrong
refrain from stealing
not an exception - moral decisions should be consistent
Problem?
no different from a gut reaction or intuition
Influence from Hume: 'reason should be a slave of the passions' not the other way round - you decide what the right thing to do is through your intuition about right behaviour and only subsequently do you justify that rationally