The Heinz Dillemma
The Heinz Dilemma was a scenario created by Kohlberg to help determine children's moral reasoning. Watch the video below to see what stage you test as, or read the story below.
Heinz’s wife was dying from a peculiar type of cancer, and the doctors said a new drug might be able to save her. The drug had been discovered by a local chemist and Heinz tried desperately to buy some, but the chemist was charging ten times the money it cost to make the drug and it was much more than the Heinz could afford.
Even after help from family and friends, Heinz could only raise a fraction of the cost for the drug. He explained to the chemist that his wife was dying and asked if he could have the drug for a cheaper price 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, and he was wondering what he should do.
Should he steal the drug and face the consequences? Or should he go scotch free?
Should he obey the law and not steal the drug, only to let his wife die?
Depending on your answer, you could fall into one of these three categories below, each containing two stages of Kohlberg's moral development.
Click on a stage of moral reasoning to learn more:
Heinz should not disobey the law and let his wife die.
Heinz should steal the drug, and pay the penalty by going to prison.
Heinz should steal the drug, and not go to prison because he did what was humane.