Final answer:
The phrase 'beyond reason' does not automatically signify an external conflict; it could pertain to either an internal or external conflict depending on the story's context. Kohlberg's interest lies in the reasoning behind decisions in a moral dilemma.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "beyond reason" suggests a scenario involving circumstances that are incomprehensible or outside the bounds of logical understanding, and does not intrinsically indicate whether the conflict is external or internal. It may refer to an internal struggle within a character who is trying to understand something irrational, or an external struggle where the character faces something absurd or nonsensical in the world around them.
In the context of Kohlberg's moral dilemma, this phrase would likely refer to an internal conflict, where the character grapples with issues of moral or rational understanding. However, without more information about the characters or the nature of the story, it is difficult to definitively classify this as an external conflict. In general, an external conflict involves a clash between a character and another character, society, nature, or some other external force. Kohlberg was more interested in the reasoning behind the characters' decisions, instead of categorizing the type of conflict.