Explain how a teacher could use a moral dilemma in an attempt to help students reason at a higher level of Kohlberg's stage theory of moral development. Note strengths and weaknesses of the moral dilemma model

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The authors present a discussion of the use of the moral dilemma on pages 57-58.
Students read the dilemma, identify relevant issues, and under the teacher's guidance, try to resolve the dilemma. One advantage of using moral dilemmas to accelerate moral reasoning is that the process of examining one's reasons for resolving moral dilemmas might enhance cognitive reasoning in other tasks. There are, however, several limitations of this approach. One is that there is often a gap between a person's proposed course of action and her actual behavior (recall the studies on the link between moral reasoning and moral behavior). Second, moral dilemmas are based on such broad macromoral issues as civil rights, free speech, the power of the state, and the sanctity of life. But people also experience dilemmas about everyday micromoral issues that revolve around interpersonal relationships, such as courtesy, helpfulness, and loyalty. A third limitation is that moral dilemmas provide no insight into the contribution that other characteristics make to moral behavior, such as self-concept and personal beliefs.