"No man is like an island" (John Donne)
Society consists of many individuals who are similar in many ways, but also extremely different in their aspirations and worldviews, experiences and perceptions of reality. Morality is what unites us, these are those special rules adopted in the human community and defining a certain general view of categories such as good and evil, right and wrong, good and bad.
Morality is defined as norms of behavior in society that have been formed over many centuries and serve for the correct development of a person in it. The term itself comes from the Latin word mores, which means rules accepted in society.
Moral Traits
Morality, which is largely decisive for the regulation of life in society, has several main features. Thus, its fundamental requirements for all members of society are the same, regardless of position. They operate even in situations that are outside the area of responsibility of legal principles and extend to such areas of life as creativity, science, and production.
Norms of public morality, in other words, traditions, are significant in communication between specific individuals and groups of people, allowing them to “speak the same language.” Legal principles are imposed on society, and failure to comply with them carries with it consequences of varying severity. Traditions and moral norms are voluntary; every member of society agrees to them without coercion.
The likelihood of confrontation and change in foundations
When considering the differences between morality and morality, it is worth pointing out that the former helps regulate the life of society. Every society, as well as groups consisting of individuals, has its own morality. Many have heard, for example, about such a concept as the law of thieves. These are also rules that are morality in certain circles. Its characteristic feature is that it allows or prohibits certain actions and regulates the life of a particular society.
Often the moral foundations of societies are opposed to each other. An example is the interaction between criminals and law enforcement agencies. The norms of behavior that underlie morality are reflected in laws and codes - legal documents, the violation of which entails legal consequences.
The actions and behavior of people are assessed in society based on the moral norms existing in it. It can change under the influence of certain events. For example, back in the 19th century, slavery and serfdom existed in the USA and the Russian Empire. In the same century, attitudes towards these concepts changed. This is one of the clear examples that morals and standards of behavior enshrined in the rules can undergo changes.
A distinctive feature of morality is that it is fundamentally unchangeable and absolute. As soon as we talk about it, the first thing that comes to mind is treating another person as oneself. Moral principles are respect, love for people, behavior in which one person does not humiliate his own kind, and also:
- does not treat them with disdain;
- does not steal;
- doesn't kill.
Much of this is stated in the Holy Scriptures. In Islam, for example, the concept of individual responsibility still applies today, when he is morally responsible for what is said and done. A person at a certain level of spiritual development commits moral actions automatically, without thinking about it in advance.
Types of moral standards
Over the centuries, moral standards have taken different forms. Thus, in primitive society, such a principle as taboo was indisputable. People who were proclaimed as transmitting the will of the gods were strictly regulated as prohibited actions that could threaten the entire society. Violation of them was inevitably followed by the most severe punishment: death or exile, which in most cases was the same thing. Taboos still persist in many traditional societies. Here, as a moral standard, examples are the following: you cannot be on the territory of the temple if the person does not belong to the clergy caste; You cannot have children from your relatives.
What to guide in situations of moral choice?
First of all, you should:
- Recognize the situation and clarify it.
- List all moral choices.
- Test each choice by asking three questions:
- “Is this action legal?”
- “Is this action correct?”
- “Will this action benefit other people?”
4. Make a decision.
5. Analyze the solution by asking two questions:
- “How will this action affect me?”
- “How will I feel if I don’t take this action?”
6. Take an action.
In this situation, it is important not to justify yourself in immoral choices. And for this you need to clearly understand what is good and what is bad.
Custom
A moral norm is not only generally accepted, as a result of its derivation by some elite, it can also be a custom. It represents a repetitive pattern of actions that is especially important in order to maintain a certain position in society. In Muslim countries, for example, traditions are more revered than other moral norms. Customs based on religious beliefs in Central Asia can cost lives. For us, who are more accustomed to European culture, legislation is an analogue. It has the same impact on us as traditional moral standards have on Muslims. Examples in this case: a ban on drinking alcohol, closed clothing for women. For our Slavic-European society, the customs are to bake pancakes on Maslenitsa and celebrate the New Year with a Christmas tree.
Among moral norms, tradition is also distinguished - a procedure and pattern of behavior that is preserved for a long time, passed on from generation to generation. A kind of traditional moral standards, examples. In this case, these include: celebrating the New Year with a tree and gifts, perhaps in a certain place, or going to the bathhouse on New Year’s Eve.
Meaning in people's lives
Moral qualities are formed in people after they make their first independent decision. It is at this moment that the understanding of “good” and “bad” arises . At the same time, we must understand that each individual has his own vision of these moments.
In accordance with the definition, morality is one of the levers of human control. It appeared in the primitive communal system at a time when there were no laws and bodies regulating the life of society. It is morality that has since become the measure of behavior, sometimes transforming into double standards.
To be convinced of the opposition of the concepts of “morality” and “morality”, you need to understand what they are. In social science, morality is internal attitudes. Focusing on them, the subject determines whether certain actions are acceptable.
Functions of morality
One of the functions is evaluation. Morality considers events and actions that take place in society from the point of view of their usefulness or danger for further development, and then makes its verdict. Various kinds of reality are assessed in terms of good and evil, creating an environment in which each of its manifestations can be assessed both positively and negatively. With the help of this function, a person can understand his place in the world and form his position.
The regulatory function is no less important. Morality actively influences people's consciousness, often acting better than legal restrictions. From childhood, with the help of education, each member of society develops certain views on what can be done and what cannot be done, and this helps him adjust his behavior in such a way that it is useful for himself and for development in general. Moral norms regulate both the internal views of a person, and therefore his behavior, and the interaction between groups of people, allowing the preservation of the established way of life, stability and culture.
The educational function of morality is expressed in the fact that under its influence a person begins to focus not only on his own needs, but also on the needs of the people around him and society as a whole. The individual develops an awareness of the value of the needs of other participants in society, which, in turn, leads to mutual respect. A person enjoys his freedom as long as it does not violate the freedom of other people. Moral ideals that are similar among different individuals help them better understand each other and act harmoniously together, positively influencing the development of each of them.
Examples of Morality
Let's look at examples of morality from life. It is worth saying that every person in one situation or another is faced with a moral choice.
He is guided by his own position. For example, a child enters school and encounters a teacher. He decides for himself what to do: walk past and pretend he didn’t notice the teacher, or say hello. This is the simplest example of the manifestation of morality.
Such situations happen in everyday life every minute. We decide whether to let an old woman pass in line, whether to help a woman with a stroller, or whether to pass by the vandals who are destroying the Eternal Flame.
Men faced with a choice when faced with a girl's pregnancy. A woman who has given birth, for example, to a sick child, also faces a moral choice. She can devote her life to caring for a disabled person or leave him in the baby's home. Her choice will affect the fate of this child. Every person is free to do as his heart advises him. There should be no punishment for this.
I would like to give one more example from the lives of adults. Spouses make a promise to be with each other in moments of joy and sorrow. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to fulfill the vow. Men leave their wives with small children, women go to wealthier and more successful men. There are many options here. But everyone must remember that the final decision is made by the individual. And his choice cannot be influenced by the opinions of others or circumstances.
I hope that now you can give your own example of a moral act from life.
Morality and healthy lifestyle
How does morality affect human health? We know that a person under the influence of chemicals cannot be considered adequate.
A person under the influence of alcohol or drugs is unable to behave morally. He destroys himself, eradicates the principles of morality. From this we can conclude that morality and health are interconnected.
But a person’s morality is not determined by physical health. Even people with disabilities are capable of remaining deeply moral people. If a seriously ill person torments his loved ones with his antics, there is no need to talk about his morality. But we cannot condemn him due to his illness.
We need to understand that by giving up bad habits, we increase our own level of morality. Nobody knows what consequences the next portion of alcohol will have. Think about those around you, don’t be a bad example, and therefore maintain morality.
A moral person will not smoke a cigarette in front of school or in a public place. He always thinks about those for whom he will serve as an example or cause ill health. Thus, a healthy lifestyle already reveals signs of morality.
Morality and travel
How does travel contribute to the development of morality? We have already said that a moral person is a well-mannered person. By traveling, we broaden our horizons, get acquainted with the traditions of different countries, learn to respect the customs, religion, and culture of foreigners.
When traveling, do not forget that we are guests in a foreign country. Never laugh at traditions; you cannot mock what is valuable for a particular nationality.
A moral person will not allow himself to enter a mosque, say, with his head uncovered, or to damage cultural monuments and historical values. He will keep the hotel room and rest areas clean.
Thus, he shows not only his morality. He also shows respect for his own Motherland and does not discredit the reputation of the nation.
Morality in business
Nowadays it has become fashionable to discuss whether business and morality are compatible. It is interesting that society is divided into two camps. Some people are sure that immoral behavior is common to all businessmen. They do not keep promises, inflate prices, deceive competitors and partners, and profit from people.
But there are also those who observe moral standards. For such businessmen, the terms of the contract are important; they conduct business honestly and do not infringe on the rights of others.
Sometimes they operate at a loss. But, nevertheless, these are moral people who were able to maintain a human appearance in conditions of fierce competition. They did not become slaves to money.
Politics and morality
The moral criteria of politicians are expressed in the measures taken for the sake of the country's population. If the authorities take care of the elderly, pay decent pensions, and are concerned that all people can receive free medical care, for example, then we can talk about the morality of the authorities.
The moral views of politicians are always visible to the common people, those who elected power. In general, a person vested with power must act in the interests of the population of the country.
Moral principles will not allow such a politician to pass laws that infringe on the rights of the population. He will do everything in his power to help all social classes. The general situation in our country makes many citizens think about the morality of politicians.
Morality and spirituality
High morality is noted among believers. Spiritually developed people always remain deeply moral. They are guided by unwritten rules. They live to make the world a better place. Here we will not talk about those who only pretend to be believers, spiritual. Such a person hides behind commandments for his own profit.
Let's give a simple example that every citizen can understand. We know that many clergy drive luxury cars, live in the richest mansions, while their parishioners donate their last money to the temples. It is difficult to call such priests moral people.
At the same time, among the clergy there are those who are ready to share the last piece of bread with the beggar. Spirituality and morality are compatible concepts. An immoral person cannot be spiritual.
Morality as a result of evolution
The basic moral principles of any time in the existence of society include the need to do good deeds and not cause harm to people, regardless of what position they occupy, what nationality they belong to, or followers of what religion they are.
The principles of norms and morality become necessary as soon as individuals interact. It was the emergence of society that created them. Biologists who focus on the study of evolution say that in nature there is also a principle of mutual utility, which in human society is realized through morality. All animals that live in society are forced to moderate their egoistic needs in order to be more adapted to later life.
Many scientists consider morality as a result of the social evolution of human society, being the same natural manifestation. They say that many of the principles of norms and morality, which are fundamental, were formed through natural selection, when only those individuals survived who could interact correctly with others. Thus, as an example, they cite parental love, which expresses the need to protect the offspring from all external dangers in order to ensure the survival of the species, and the ban on incest, which protects the population from degeneration through the mixing of too similar genes, which leads to the appearance of weak children.
Differences between the two concepts
There are different points of view regarding the relationship between these terms. The comparative table, which is given in scientific sources, makes it clear that, despite the apparent similarity, they still differ from each other.
Speaking about how morality differs from morality, it should be noted that the former is a system of norms and values adopted in a particular society. They are necessary to regulate relationships between people. Morality is what is inherent in a person himself, his principles, understanding of what is right and wrong. Moral principles are formed under the influence of:
- families;
- relationships with people;
- books to read;
- movies watched.
Each person has his own moral principles; over time, under the influence of certain factors, they can change. Thus, people can live in the same society, having the same vision of morality, but individual moral principles.
Morality and morality are philosophical concepts, they are dealt with by a science called ethics. Although these terms are studied in ethics and many people consider them synonymous, they are different from each other and carry different meanings.
Humanism as a basic principle of morality
Humanism is the fundamental principle of public morality. It refers to the belief that every person has the right to happiness and countless opportunities to realize this right, and that at the core of every society should be the idea that everyone in it has value and is worthy of protection and freedom .
The basic idea of humanism can be expressed in the well-known rule: “treat others the way you want to be treated.” Another person in this principle is seen as deserving the same benefits as any particular person.
Humanism assumes that society must guarantee basic human rights, such as the right to life, inviolability of home and correspondence, freedom of religion and choice of place of residence, and the prohibition of forced labor. Society must make efforts to support people who, for one reason or another, are limited in their abilities. The ability to accept such people distinguishes human society, which does not live according to the laws of nature with natural selection, dooming those who are not strong enough to die. Humanism also creates opportunities for human happiness, the pinnacle of which is the realization of one’s knowledge and skills.
Is it necessary to eat right for the correct development of consciousness?
A discussion about examples of moral norms from Alexander Vladislavovich Izmailov.
Man is a moral being, therefore only man commits immoral [contrary to moral standards] actions.
But let us ask ourselves a seemingly idle question: what happens to a person as a result of committing an immoral act [that goes against generally accepted moral norms]?
For example, a person knows that meat is harmful, that animals suffer, that there is something cruel and even bloody in devouring someone else’s flesh, he knows that beer kills the kidneys, leads to cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis and swelling of the heart, that is, a person knows that drinking beer and eating meat excessively is prohibited. But a person drinks beer and eats meat.
And who will punish him?
The public assures us that the criminal will be punished by life itself, illness and quick death. But the criminal does not die, does not get sick, lives happily and life does not execute him.
- By the way, who said that beer and barbecue are not allowed? This was said by the Moral Giant, powerful in mind and body.
- Who saw him? Everyone and no one. Because the voice of the Moral Giant is one of our inner voices.
- Then let’s ask: who does the barbecue eater contradict? To your inner moral voice.
- And what comes out of this? A conflict emerges.
- Hey, you giant! I am not afraid of you! Hee hee!
- You will pay dearly!
- But I won’t cry!
- You impudent hooligan!
- It depends on how you look. I'm a daredevil! And the girls love it.
And from this day on, the Moral Giant leaves the naughty man, leaving him to his own fate. Or doesn't he leave? Yes, it doesn’t seem to leave. He just falls silent, and lies in wait, and waits for the naughty guy to take the wrong sip and choke, and then the Giant will take revenge.
- What, choked? I warned you!
But the naughty man continues to stick to his line. Actually, the consequence of his internal conflict is precisely that he continues to stubbornly “bend the line” [of his violation of moral standards], which bends more and more away from the righteous straight line of the Moral Giant.
And then it’s time to flash a guess: the naughty guy doesn’t like beer or barbecue. He loves to bend the line, and his love for barbecue and beer is only an epiphenomenon, so to speak, a derivative of his love for disobedience, [an irresistible passion for violating moral standards, a protest against morality].
Why does he love disobedience so much?
Mercy as a basic principle of morality
Mercy is understood as a person’s readiness to help people in need, to sympathize with them, perceiving their suffering as his own and wanting to alleviate their suffering. Many religions pay close attention to this moral principle, especially Buddhism and Christianity. In order for a person to be merciful, it is necessary that he does not divide people into “us” and “strangers”, so that he sees “his own” in everyone.
Currently, great emphasis is placed on the fact that a person should actively help those who need mercy, and it is important that he not only provides practical assistance, but is also ready to support morally.
Morality and law
Law and morality are in close contact, since together they form the rules in society, but they have a number of significant differences. The relationship between legal and moral norms makes it possible to identify their differences.
The rules of law are documented and developed by the state as mandatory rules, non-compliance with which inevitably entails liability. The categories of legal and illegal are used as an assessment, and this assessment is objective, built on regulatory documents, such as the constitution and various codes.
Moral norms and principles are more flexible and can be perceived differently by different people, and can also depend on the situation. They exist in society in the form of rules that are passed on from one person to another and are not documented anywhere. Moral norms are quite subjective, assessment is expressed through the concepts of “right” and “wrong”; their failure to comply in some cases cannot lead to more serious consequences than public censure or simply disapproval. For a person, violating moral principles can lead to pangs of conscience.
Social and moral duty
Typically, the concept of debt has two sides. A person who performs necessary objective duties is subject to public duty. This type of debt manifests itself in all areas of a person’s life - at home, at school, at work, in the company of friends, etc.
The moral duty of a person has a different nature. It manifests itself when a person turns external moral demands into a personal task. There is no place for outside influence and decrees; the individual himself makes individual moral choices based on his own beliefs. In this case, a person is not limited to just being aware of moral norms, he sets himself the goal of following them at all costs.
Often, before accepting a moral duty, a person internally struggles with his contradictions. But when a moral choice is formed and becomes part of the individual’s consciousness, spirituality appears, as well as strength and courage to commit an act. The highest manifestation of moral duty is marked by overcoming internal barriers in favor of choosing conscience and morality. In this case, a person confidently begins to follow his goal.
