Question

Read the following scenario and answer the question that follows.
After watching the morning news, roommates Kelly and Rob argued about whether or not a man on trial should have been sentenced to prison for robbing goods and giving to those on welfare. Rob argued that the man should not have been convicted because he broke the law for a good cause while Kelly argued that the man should be convicted because it is against the law to steal so the man's behavior was wrong.
Based on Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning which of the following statements would Kohlberg agree with?
A.
Kelly is at a higher level of moral reasoning than Rob.
B.
Rob is at a higher level of moral reasoning than Kelly.
C.
Rob and Kelly are at the same level of moral reasoning.
D.
Rob has more knowledge than Kelly concerning criminal behavior.

Answer 1

B. Kohlberg would view Rob as reasoning at a higher stage. Kelly's "it's against the law, so it's wrong" reflects the conventional law-and-order stage, while Rob's idea that breaking a law can be justified for a greater good reflects postconventional (social-contract/principled) reasoning.