| Kohlberg: To become ethical is a gradual process, yet it can be accelerated by
study. Harvard psychologist, "Kohlberg discovered that when his subjects took courses in
ethics and these courses challenged them to look at issues from a
universal point of view, they tended to move upward through the levels.
This finding, as Rest points out, has been repeatedly supported by other
researchers." (Ethics
Connection)
The
Kohlbergian Background: (born 1927-1987)
|
Lawrence
Kohlberg had also been profoundly affected by
World War II and its aftermath, including the events surrounding
the forming of "Israel." When Israel was
struggling for statehood, strict embargos were in effect,
yet there were people who defied these embargoes. There were
strict embargoes on the importation of food, of medicine, or armaments,
as well as the immigration of people. |
| Trivia: Kohlberg was
brilliant. In 1948 he entered the University of
Chicago and earned a Bachelor's degree in only one
year! |
|
Kohlberg threw himself in the Zionist cause and smuggled Jewish
refugees past the British blockade of Palestine.
Kohlberg wondered why some people were brave enough to break the
written law. Clearly many did not break the law for personal or monetary
gain, as this act could cost them their lives. So here we have two types
of people: Those who followed the law to the letter and those who
broke it for a higher cause.
In 1958 he published his doctoral dissertation regarding the 3 levels
(6 stages) of moral development & became famous instantly! His
reasoning was that moral/ethical development
occurs in three sequential stages and that only a few
persons (like Mother Teresa, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King) have
reached the top stage, a stage characterized by universal ethical
principles of justice, equality, respect, and reciprocity.
| Kohlberg's
Stages of Moral Development |
| Level |
Title |
Description |
| 1 |
Preconventional Level
A. Punishment and obedience orientation
B. Instrumental relativist orientation
|
This is the child's level where one repeats what was
taught by parents. A. Punishment & Obedience Orientation
B. Naive Reward Orientation
Will satisfy the needs of others as a means to her own ends
|
| 2 |
The Conventional Level
A. Interpersonal orientation
B. Law and order orientation
|
Norms have become internalized.
Associated with adolescents (and some
never outgrow this level), where right and wrong is a mimicking of
accepted societal rules and laws.
- A. Good boy , good girl orientation -
Follows moral rules for social approval
-
B. Authority orientation -
Follows moral rules from a respect for authority and the law
|
| 3 |
The Postconventional Level:
A social contract legalistic orientation
B. universal ethical principle orientation
|
The universalized level wherein
universal ideals of human justice or human rights or human welfare are
considered .(Markkula
Center for Ethics)
One would be willing to act and take a stand for values, and act
with consistency.
- A. Social Contract Orientation (social contract theories &
rule utilitarianism)
- freedom as long as no harm is committed; utilitarian
- B. Moral Orientation - (Kantian Theme of rationality &
universalizability)
- ruled by self- legislated moral principles (justice,
universality)
|
Discussion Question: The Doctor Heinz Dilemma:
Kohlberg asked people the following question: There is a very
poor man (fictional, of course) who could not afford to pay for a drug
for his dying wife. Was Heinz correct in stealing the drug?
Kohlberg reasoned young children said Heinz was wrong because the
children were in "Level IA" where stealing is bad
because it is against the law.
More morally developed individuals (Level IB) would reason from
a point of self-interest.
The most moral (Level II) primarily reasoned from a viewpoint of
personal relationships
Level III individuals reasoned towards universality, from the
principle of justice, working for a moral society, even if it meant
breaking laws.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purpose of Ethical Theories: "To reduce complexity by
introducing general principles that can explain a wide variety of
cases....Ethical theories do not only formulate ethical principles
but also examine their validity (truthfulness) by checking their
internal consistency and ensuring the absence of contradiction in their premises
and conclusions" (51-52 Souryal)
In what sense is a faith-based morality different from secular
morality?
Secular morality often stresses what is necessary: Do unto others as you
would like others..."Faith-based morality often raises the playing
field one notch to what is best, not on what is necessary: "Love your
neighbor." It is raised to the level of love. It heightens the
sense of seriousness and responsibility, making one think of both
commission and omission
Distinction between Ethics and Law:
Ethics/moral responsibility calls us to a higher standard than
law.
FURTHER CASE STUDIES
| Kitty Genovese Story |
| At 3:20 A.M. in a middle-class
neighborhood Queens, New York, Kitty was returning home from
work as a bar manager. She notice a man following her, so she
headed to the police call box.
She did not reach the call box in time & was stabbed. Kitty
yelled loudly enough to wake 38 people. One man yelled
"Let that girl alone!" No one else did anything.
The attacker, somewhat taken aback by the yell and by the
lights going headed towards his car.. A few minutes later he
returned to find Kitty staggering toward her apartment and
stabbed her again. Kitty yelled, "I'm dying." The attacker
left.
The attacker went to his car & drove away, only to return for
the third time. This time, he finally killed her.
A full half-hour passed from the first to the third attack.
Police were called later and arrived within half-hour.
Questions
- What does this true story tell us about the erosion of personal
responsibility in our society?
- Does morality imply more than just not being cruel, but also
helping others in desperate need - at least when this can be
done with minimum inconvenience like a phone call?
- Ayn Rand argues in The Virtue of Selfishness
that society would
be better off if each of us were focused on our own
self-interests. If we expended our energy on what we do
best, we would become skillful and prosper. Does this theory
hold true to you, or might it open doors for people like Kitty
or the sickly to be overlooked?
|
| Cash, Jr. and Jeremy Strohmeyer
Story |
David Cash, Jr. and Jeremy Strohmeyer September 1998 gambling scenario:
Both men saw a 7-year old girl playing in an arcade at 3:00 A.M. in
Nevada. They played with her and then all 3 went to the
men's room. Cash noticed Strohmeyer place his hand over the girl's mouth
while undressing the struggling girls. Cash claims he told Strohmeyer to
stop, and when Strohmeyer didn't, Cash waited outside the men's room.
24 minutes later, Strohmeyer came out and informed Cash he had just
molested and murdered the girl. Cash asked, "Was she aroused?"
Cash was never charged with anything because in Nevada, no law
says, "You must stop a crime in progress." Cash admitted to no
remorse, and on the bright side said the fame may help him meet women at
the university. (Barcalow 1)
|
Discussion questions
- What do you think of these cases ? Should there be a law stating that if
one knows another is or will be abused that it should be
reported?
- What do you think of items like the following
that appear on the web?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ethics Toolbox: Compare Masculine Justice & Feminine care - with case
study |
