Morals in Antigone

1. Morals in Antigone Kohlberg’s Six Stages of Moral Development

2. Who IS Kohlberg? • Lawrence Kohlberg studied psychology at University of Chicago • Adapted a psychological theory originally conceived by Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget having to do with human morality

3. Moral Development • Develops in six stages • With each additional stage, a person is more capable of responding to moral dilemmas than the stage before it • Kohlberg believed that the development continued throughout a person’s lifetime • Relied on stories such as the “Heinz dilemma” and was interested in how people justified their actions if placed in similar moral dilemmas

4. Heinz Dilemma 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." So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug for his wife. Should Heinz have broken into the store to steal the drug for his wife? Why or why not?

5. What do you think? • What would you do if faced with the Heinz dilemma?

6. 6 Stages • Pre-conventional • 1: Obedience and punishment • 2: Self-interest • Conventional • 3: Interpersonal accord and conformity • 4: Authority and social-order • Post-conventional • 5: Flexible social contract • 6: Universal ethical principles *Every person proceeds through the stages in order before settling on the last one they will embody in their lifetime. Most people are 3’s or 4’s.

7. Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience • “How can I avoid punishment?” • Individuals focus on the consequences of their actions on themselves • The action is seen as wrong only because the perpetrator is punished • The worse the punishment is, the worse the action is perceived • Seen in young children 1

8. Stage 1 Responses • Heinz should not steal the medicine because he will consequently be put in prison which will mean he is a bad person. • Heinz should steal the medicine because it is only worth $200 and not how much the druggist wanted for it; Heinz had even offered to pay for it and was not stealing anything else.

9. Stage 2: Self-interest “What’s in it for me?” Right behavior means acting in one’s self interest Seen mostly in children but also some adolescents and adults Shows a limited interest in the needs of others, but only to the point where it might further the individual’s own interests Concern for others is based on a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” mentality

10. Stage 2 Responses • Heinz should steal the medicine because he will be much happier if he saves his wife, even if he will have to serve a prison sentence. • Heinz should not steal the medicine because prison is an awful place, and he would probably languish over a jail cell more than his wife's death.

11. Stage 3: Conformist Conformity to societal roles (follower) Seeking approval or disapproval from others Judging the morality of an action by evaluating its consequences in terms of relationships Understanding of concepts such as gratitude and respect Being a “good” or “nice” person Seen mostly in adolescents and some adults 3

12. Stage 3 Responses • Heinz should steal the medicine because his wife expects it; he wants to be a good husband. • Heinz should not steal the drug because stealing is bad and he is not a criminal; he tried to do everything he could without breaking the law, you cannot blame him.

13. Stage 4: Law and Order Everyone should follow the established rules for the sake of law and order. Beyond the need for individual approval exhibited in stage 3; society must learn to transcend individual needs If one person violates the law, perhaps everyone would, thus there is an obligation and duty to uphold laws and rules Most active members of society remain here 4

14. Stage 4 Responses • Heinz should not steal the medicine because the law prohibits stealing, making it illegal. • Heinz should steal the drug for his wife but also take the prescribed punishment for the crime as well as paying the druggist what he is owed. Criminals cannot just run around without regard for the law; actions have consequences.

15. Stage 5: Flexible Social Contract/Individual Conscience World is viewed as holding different opinions, values, and rights Such perspectives should be mutually respected as unique to each person or community Laws are social contracts and not rigid Established laws may be incorrect and can be changed to better serve the majority beyond the laws Decisions should be reached through majority decision and compromise

16. Stage 5 Responses • Heinz should steal the medicine because everyone has a right to choose life, regardless of the law. • Heinz should not steal the medicine because the scientist has a right to fair compensation. Even if his wife is sick, it does not make his actions right.

17. Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles Laws are valid as long as they are grounded in justice, and a commitment to justice carries an obligation to disobey unjust laws An individual imagines what they would do in another person’s shoes and acts in accordance with that An individual acts because it is right, not because it is instrumental, expected, legal, or previously agreed upon Tries to balance the needs of all involved

18. 5 or 6? • It seems difficult to distinguish between stages 5 and 6. • The main difference is that those who are a stage 6 try to balance the needs of all involved instead of acting impulsively in trying to pursue justice.

19. Stage 6 Responses • Heinz should steal the medicine, because saving a human life is a more fundamental value than the property rights of another person. • Heinz should not steal the medicine, because others may need the medicine just as badly, and their lives are equally significant. (Kohlberg knew this stage existed but found it difficult to identify individuals who operated at this level – some suggestions have been historical figures such as Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Abraham Lincoln).

21. Antigone Moral Hierarchy Seminar • Discuss which characters were placed at which stage of the hierarchy and why. • For which characters did we disagree? Why? Is there a way to come to a compromise? • What potential flaws or problems do you see with Kohlberg’s theory? • Kohlberg had a difficult time finding people who were a stage 6. Can you think of anyone, real or fictional, who might be a candidate? • Regardless of the flaws in this theory, how is it a helpful tool for analyzing this particular play?

22. Antigone Synthesis Essay Reflection • What did you learn from writing the essay? (about your writing, about the topic, etc.) • What did you learn about the skill of writing synthesis essays in particular? What were you able to do well? What was challenging for you? • Look over the rubric. Is there any part of it you don’t understand or a skill discussed there that you feel you don’t have? • To the best of your ability, score yourself according to the rubric and provide a short explanation (for each category) as to why you deserve that score, using specific evidence from your essay.