Name:____________________________________________ Date:________________________ Period:____________
Moral Dilemma Packet
Directions: Read the short story, and then answer questions 1-4. After answering 1-4, read the handout “Kohlberg’s Stages of
Moral Development.” Then, answer question 5. Once you have finished question 5, continue with the remaining activities.
Heinz’s wife was dying from a particular type of cancer. Doctors said a new drug might save her. The drug had been discovered
by a local chemist and the Heinz tried desperately to buy some, but the chemist was charging ten times the money it cost to
make the drug and this was much more than the Heinz could afford.
Heinz could only raise half the money, even after help from family and friends. He explained to the chemist that his wife was
dying and asked if he could have the drug cheaper or pay the rest of the money later. The chemist refused saying that he had
discovered the drug and was going to make money from it. The husband was desperate to save his wife, so later that night he
broke into the chemist’s and stole the drug.
1. Should Heinz have stolen the drug? Why or why not?
2. Would it change anything if Heinz did not love his wife?
3. What if the person dying was a stranger, would it make any difference?
4. Should the police arrest the chemist for murder if the woman died?
DO NOT ANSWER QUESTION 5 UNTILL YOU HAVE READ “KOHLBERG’S STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT”
5. Consider Kholberg’s Stages of Moral Development and review your answers. What stage of moral development does
your answer fall in? Do you agree or disagree with Kohlberg’s ranking of your answer? Write a paragraph to explain your
reasoning.
CHOOSE TWO OF THE MORAL DILEMMAS WRITTEN BELOW. WHAT WOULD BE THE RESPONSE BASED ON EACH OF THE
STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT?
Dilemmas:
1. You’re at a party where a six foot, six inch, three-hundred-pound, broad-shouldered and well-muscled guy is obviously
extremely drunk. He is about to leave the party and drive himself and his girlfriend home. No one else makes a move to
stop him. What do you do?
2. You are on a jury in a capital-crime case: the defendant, if found guilty, will die. You are the only one on the jury who
believes he’s innocent. If the head juror declares a hung jury (meaning you can’t reach consensus) then a new trial will
happen and the defendant will likely be found guilty. Every other juror wants to find him guilty and go home: none of
you can leave until you’ve reached a verdict. What do you do?
3. You and your spouse (in the future) have conjoined (Siamese) twins. The doctors tell you if you don’t separate them
they will both die within a year. If you do separate them one will die and the other might live. What do you tell the
doctors to do: separate them and give at least one a chance to live, or refuse to choose and let them both die within a
year?
4. You know a particular individual who is suspected of murder. You believe he is innocent. He is running from the law.
You know if he is arrested, he could very likely end up dead as a result of police brutality, or a lynch mob, or be given the
death penalty, despite his innocence, all of which are fairly common in the area of the country you are in. If you aid and
abet him by helping him to escape you are also committing a crime, and you could go to prison for many, many years, or
possibly also end up dead. He comes to you for help, help in escaping to Canada and from there to a country from which
it will be difficult to extradite him. Do you help him obtain his freedom, and break the law doing so, or not?
Dilemma Number: ____________
Stage one (punishment/obedience):
Stage two (rewards):
Stage three (good intention):
Stage four (obedience to authority):
Stage five (moral versus legal right):
Stage six (individual principals of conscience):
Dilemma Number: ____________
Stage one (punishment/obedience):
Stage two (rewards):
Stage three (good intention):
Stage four (obedience to authority):
Stage five (moral versus legal right):
Stage six (individual principals of conscience):