Yes it was right for Heinz to steal the drugs from the druggist since he deemed it to be one that will be of greater good; saving his wives life. Lawrence Kohlberg tried to explain this scenario by developing the various stages of development. These were preconventional, conventional and postconventional (McLeod, 2013).
Firstly, Heinz’s actions were driven by not only his self-interest but also he was acting for the interest of his wife. This is since his actions were meant to save his wife. He stole the drugs with the aim of giving it to the doctors which would then be used to save his wife’s life. Although the society may view his actions of stealing as a crime, the fact that him stealing the drugs would amount to the wife surviving the cancer she had, Heinz may consider that saving his wife is in his best interest then the stealing of the drugs is the right decision.
Secondly, Heinz may justify his actions conventionally since his actions were all meant for a good intention and it might be acceptable as per the society’s consensus. The fact that his actions were meant to save his wife, may reciprocate in him being forgiven by the society. This is since Kohlberg tried to explain this stage of morality by stating that at times an individual’s actions may be motivated by the way the society may look at his actions to be for the greater good and this in turn may lead to him being forgiven for his actions (Kohlberg, 1958).
Lastly, Heinz actions were justified by the fact that they were motivated by the fact that his wife was going to die due to the fact that the druggist refused to sell him the drugs for the amount that he had been able to raise, and that he discovered the drug not to help the cancer patients but to make money (Barger, 2000).
In conclusion, Heinz action of stealing the drugs was justified since the action was meant for a greater good.
References
Barger,R(2000). A Summary of Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development. Retrieved from https://www.csudh.edu/dearhabermas/kohlberg01bk.htm
Kohlberg, L. (1958). The Development of Modes of Thinking and Choices in Years 10 to 16. Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Chicago
McLeod, S. A. (2013). Kohlberg. Retrieved from: http://www.simplypsychology.org/kohlberg.html
