Moral Development Read the following story and after reading state whether the tailor should report Valjean to the police. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

In a country in Europe, a poor man named Valjean could find no work, nor could his sister and brother. Without money, he stole food and medicine that they needed. He was captured and sentenced to prison for six years. After a couple of years, he escaped from the prison and went to live in another part of the country under a new name. He saved money and slowly built up a big factory. He gave his workers the highest wages and used most of his profits to build a hospital for people who couldn’t afford good medical care. Twenty years had passed when a tailor recognized the factory owner as being Valjean, the escaped convict whom the police had been looking for back in his hometown. Should the tailor report Valjean to the police?

(Rank from lowest morality (1) Statement (Rank from lowest morality (1) to highest morality (5) Identify Moral Stage If you don’t report him, everyone will think you are just as much a criminal. Although turning Valjean in may not be perfectly just, leaving such decisions up to each person’s judgment would result in greater injustice. The tailor will be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the police. The tailor may get a reward for turning in a criminal. There has to be respect for the written law. Don’t rank Your statement

(Rank from lowest morality (1) Statement (Rank from lowest morality (1) to highest morality (5) Identify Moral Stage If you don’t report him, everyone will think you are just as much a criminal. Although turning Valjean in may not be perfectly just, leaving such decisions up to each person’s judgment would result in greater injustice. 1 The tailor will be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the police. Preconventional (Avoid Punishment) The tailor may get a reward for turning in a criminal. There has to be respect for the written law. Don’t rank Your statement

(Rank from lowest morality (1) Statement (Rank from lowest morality (1) to highest morality (5) Identify Moral Stage If you don’t report him, everyone will think you are just as much a criminal. Although turning Valjean in may not be perfectly just, leaving such decisions up to each person’s judgment would result in greater injustice. 1 The tailor will be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the police. Preconventional (Avoid Punishment) 2 The tailor may get a reward for turning in a criminal. (Gains reward) There has to be respect for the written law. Don’t rank Your statement

(Rank from lowest morality (1) Statement (Rank from lowest morality (1) to highest morality (5) Identify Moral Stage 3 If you don’t report him, everyone will think you are just as much a criminal. Conventional (Gains approval/ avoids disapproval) Although turning Valjean in may not be perfectly just, leaving such decisions up to each person’s judgment would result in greater injustice. 1 The tailor will be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the police. Preconventional (Avoid Punishment) 2 The tailor may get a reward for turning in a criminal. (Gains reward) There has to be respect for the written law. Don’t rank Your statement

(Rank from lowest morality (1) Statement (Rank from lowest morality (1) to highest morality (5) Identify Moral Stage 3 If you don’t report him, everyone will think you are just as much a criminal. Conventional (Gains approval/ avoids disapproval) Although turning Valjean in may not be perfectly just, leaving such decisions up to each person’s judgment would result in greater injustice. 1 The tailor will be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the police. Preconventional (Avoid Punishment) 2 The tailor may get a reward for turning in a criminal. (Gains reward) 4 There has to be respect for the written law. Conventional (Law and Order) Don’t rank Your statement

(Rank from lowest morality (1) Statement (Rank from lowest morality (1) to highest morality (5) Identify Moral Stage 3 If you don’t report him, everyone will think you are just as much a criminal. Conventional (Gains approval/ avoids disapproval) 5 Although turning Valjean in may not be perfectly just, leaving such decisions up to each person’s judgment would result in greater injustice. Post-Conventional (Social Context) 1 The tailor will be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the police. Preconventional (Avoid Punishment) 2 The tailor may get a reward for turning in a criminal. (Gains reward) 4 There has to be respect for the written law. Conventional (Law and Order) Don’t rank Your statement

Kohlberg’s Stages As moral development progresses, the focus of concern moves from the self to the wider social world. Pre-conventional 1: Avoid punishment 2: Personal gain Conventional 3: Good boy/Nice girl 4: Law & order Post-conventional 5: Social contract 6: Universal ethical principles

(Rank from lowest morality (1) Statement (Rank from lowest morality (1) to highest morality (5) Identify Moral Stage 3 If you don’t report him, everyone will think you are just as much a criminal. Conventional (Gains approval/ avoids disapproval) 5 Although turning Valjean in may not be perfectly just, leaving such decisions up to each person’s judgment would result in greater injustice. Post-Conventional (Social Context) 1 The tailor will be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the police. Preconventional (Avoid Punishment) 2 The tailor may get a reward for turning in a criminal. (Gains reward) 4 There has to be respect for the written law. Conventional (Law and Order) Don’t rank Your statement ID YOUR MORAL STAGE ?

(Rank from lowest morality (1) Statement (Rank from lowest morality (1) to highest morality (5) Identify Moral Stage 3 If you don’t report him, everyone will think you are just as much a criminal. Conventional (Gains approval/ avoids disapproval) 5 Although turning Valjean in may not be perfectly just, leaving such decisions up to each person’s judgment would result in greater injustice. Post-Conventional (Social Context) 1 The tailor will be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the police. Preconventional (Avoid Punishment) 2 The tailor may get a reward for turning in a criminal. (Gains reward) 4 There has to be respect for the written law. Conventional (Law and Order) Don’t rank As a human being our survival depends on the principal that we must help each other (Universal ethics)

Alternatives to Kohlberg Criticisms: Hard stages Moral issues versus social conventions Western male cultural bias Morality of Caring: Carol Gilligan’s work Morality is based on ability to have empathy for other person. How would Gilligan explain differences in morality towards Valjean?

(Rank from lowest morality (1) Statement (Rank from lowest morality (1) to highest morality (5) Identify Moral Stage 3 If you don’t report him, everyone will think you are just as much a criminal. 5 Although turning Valjean in may not be perfectly just, leaving such decisions up to each person’s judgment would result in greater injustice. Most empathetic 1 The tailor will be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the police. Least empathetic 2 The tailor may get a reward for turning in a criminal. 4 There has to be respect for the written law. Don’t rank Your statement Gilligan’s Morality of Caring