The Heinz Dilemma

Summary

In Kohlberg's famous moral dilemma, 'The Heinz Dilemma,' a woman is dying from a rare cancer. A druggist charges exorbitantly for a potentially life-saving drug, which the husband, Heinz, cannot afford. Desperate, Heinz contemplates stealing the drug. The dilemma explores moral reasoning and the conflict between personal ethics and societal laws.

Takeaways

• 💊 The dilemma involves a life-threatening situation: A woman is near death from a rare cancer.
• 💰 The drug's cost is exorbitant: The druggist charges 10 times the production cost, amounting to $2000 for a small dose.
• 🤝 Heinz attempts to negotiate: He tries to borrow money and asks the druggist for a discount or credit.
• 🚫 The druggist refuses: He denies Heinz's request to sell the drug cheaper or allow payment later.
• 🏃 Heinz is desperate: Unable to gather enough money, he feels he has no other option.
• 🔐 Heinz considers theft: As a last resort, he contemplates stealing the drug to save his wife.
• 🤔 The moral question posed: The dilemma asks whether Heinz's actions are morally justified.
• 🌐 The setting is significant: The story takes place in Europe, which might imply different cultural or legal considerations.
• 👨 Heinz's role as a husband: His actions are driven by love and a sense of responsibility towards his wife.
• 🏥 The medical context: The drug is the only hope for the woman's survival, adding urgency to the situation.
• 💭 The dilemma challenges ethical principles: It pits the value of human life against the principles of property rights and the law.

Q & A

What is Kohlberg's moral dilemma?

Kohlberg's moral dilemma is a hypothetical scenario designed to explore moral reasoning, particularly the conflict between legal rules and ethical actions.

What is the Heinz dilemma?

The Heinz dilemma is a specific moral dilemma named after the character in the story, where Heinz must decide whether to steal a drug to save his wife's life despite its high cost.

What is the rare disease that the woman in the Heinz dilemma is suffering from?

The woman is suffering from a rare kind of cancer.

What is the drug that might save the woman's life?

The script does not specify the name of the drug, only that it is the only drug that the doctors think might save her.

How much does the druggist charge for the drug?

The druggist charges $2,000 for a small dose of the drug.

How much does the drug cost the druggist to make?

The script does not provide the exact cost to the druggist, only that he is charging 10 times what it costs him to make.

How much money does Heinz manage to gather to buy the drug?

Heinz is only able to gather about $1,000.

What does Heinz ask the druggist when he cannot afford the drug?

Heinz asks the druggist to sell the drug cheaper or to let him pay later.

What is the druggist's response to Heinz's request?

The druggist refuses Heinz's request to sell the drug cheaper or to allow payment later.

What desperate action does Heinz take?

Heinz breaks into the druggist's store to steal the drug for his wife.

What moral question does the Heinz dilemma raise?

The dilemma raises the moral question of whether it is justifiable to break the law for the greater good, such as saving a life.

What is the intended purpose of presenting the Heinz dilemma?

The Heinz dilemma is intended to provoke thought and discussion about moral development and the stages of moral reasoning.