For this question answer by: 1: What you would do in this situation. 2: Why you

Question

For this question answer by:

1: What you would do in this situation.

2: Why you would make that choice.

3: Which of Kohlberg's levels of moral reasoning your choice represents?

You are a pilot for a small regional airline. You happen to be the pilot for a private flight taking 20 members of your extended family to a vacation destination in Mexico. Your spouse and children are already there waiting for you. Mid-flight two things happen: you receive news your spouse died in a car accident. Your children are okay but waiting at a local police station for your arrival. Moments later the planes experiences a mechanical emergency and starts to lose altitude. You know, based on your experience, that there is less than 20% chance that you can land the plane safely, saving yourself and your family. There is a parachute in the cockpit, you can jump out and save yourself.

What will you do?

Explanation / Answer

I would probably put the flight on autopilot and jump out and save myself.

If I know that there is less than 20% chance of saving me and others, I would want to save myself. This is also because at that moment I came to know that my spouse had died and my children are alone. So, I cannot merely just leave my life and others on a chance and ideal situation. I would rather go with things I am absolutely sure of. At the moment I would be more worried about my children and may not be able to come up with any names to take care of them (since there is also no way of communication available in the air). I would prefer to be alive and take care of my children than to stick on to a less than 20% chance.

I would be using Kohler's social contract stage, where I would not be abiding the rules of being the last to jump of the flight after the passengers. I would rather choose something which I feel is the most appropriate for the moment.

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