We explain what morality is, the types that exist and what moral codes are. In addition, understand what their characteristics and examples are.
Morality covers all topics and contexts of the human being.
What is morality?
Morality is the set of beliefs, customs, norms and values that govern the actions of an individual or a group of individuals.
Morality is important in all areas where people interact with each other. In everyday life, Almost every decision people make involves a moral choice.since each person’s actions have an impact on others.
Morality is like a set of rules about how we should act, and these rules are based on what we think is important or valuable. When a group of people think that a way of acting is good, that is positive morality for them. But What is good for one group may not be good for another.. This can change depending on what people believe, their traditions, their religion, and many other things.
Morality can also refer to actions whose morality (that is, whether they are right or wrong) is supported by a law or set of laws.
The word “moral” comes from Latin mor (either moris), which means “custom” or “character.” Of mor comes off moraliswhich is equivalent to Greek ethikos (“ethics”). Morality is the set of values, norms and principles that are expressed in people’s actions.
Characteristics of morality
All expressions of morality share some common characteristics:
- Cultural relativismMorality is sometimes characterized by cultural relativism, meaning that what is morally correct varies depending on local culture and customs. For example, in the West, eating beef is a common and accepted practice, while in India the cow is a sacred animal for followers of Hinduism and its consumption is prohibited in some states.
- Objectivity and subjectivity. Morality explores the debate between objective morality (moral standards independent of personal opinions) and subjective morality (morality based on individual opinions) and seeks to understand the relationship between the two.
- Practical rationality. Morality is a fundamental part of how humans make decisions in everyday life.
- Obligation and duty. Morality is often based on a feeling of duty or obligation toward certain norms or values, which people are expected to follow without the need for close philosophical analysis.
- ReligiosityMorality can be strongly influenced by religious beliefs, as religions often provide a complete moral system.
Types of morality
The moral It is classified according to its relationship with the individual. In this sense, there is an objective morality, which is the set of traditional norms put into practice socially, and there is a subjective morality, which has to do with the own and internal decisions of an individual.
- Objective morality. It is what tradition dictates and does not depend on the individual. It maintains that there are universal and objective moral norms that are valid regardless of individual opinions. In objective morality there are fixed moral principles that apply to all people, in all cultures, and that are based on an objective reality or the nature of things. For example, most cultures believe that stealing is wrong and impose penalties on those who do it.
- Subjective morality. It is what has to do with the own and internal decisions of an individual. He maintains that morality depends on individual opinions and values. What is “good” or “bad” varies depending on each person’s beliefs and experiences. In this approach, there are no universal moral standards; Instead, ethical standards are relative to culture, society, or each individual’s perception. For example, moral relativism is a subjective ethical theory that argues that morality is subjective and varies from culture to culture or even person to person. Thus, although for objective morality lying is something that is “wrong”, the decision to do it or not depends on the subjective morality of each person.
There are also other ways of classifying morality, which result in types of morality similar to objective and subjective.
- Relativistic morality. Similar to subjective morality, it argues that moral norms are relative to the culture or society in which they are found. What is morally acceptable may vary from community to community.
- Utilitarian morality. It focuses on the principle of maximizing happiness or general well-being. It evaluates the morality of actions based on their consequences and seeks the greatest good for the majority.
- Deontological morality. It is based on duty and respect for moral principles. It focuses on moral obligation, regardless of the consequences.
- Virtuous morality. It focuses on the development of moral virtues in people. It considers that being a virtuous person is fundamental to making ethical decisions.
- Religious morality. It is derived from religious principles and religious teachings. Religions often provide a moral framework based on divine beliefs and sacred scriptures.
- Secular moralityIt is independent of religion and is based on reason, secular ethics and humanistic values. It seeks to develop an ethical system without the need for religious references.
- Legal morality. It refers to the rules and laws established by a society or government that determine what is legal and therefore what is considered morally acceptable from a legal perspective.
- Professional ethics. It is applied in professional and ethical contexts, such as medical ethics, business ethics, and journalistic ethics. It establishes specific standards and guidelines for ethical behavior in these areas.
Examples of morality
Morality involves thinking about how our actions affect others. Every day, When we choose what to do we are choosing between right and wrongbecause what we do can have positive or negative consequences for other people. Therefore, some examples of the exercise of morality are:
- The lie. Deciding whether to tell the truth or lie in a particular situation, such as when someone asks a friend if he or she likes his or her new haircut.
- The charity. Decide if you should help someone in trouble, such as collaborating with organizations that support people in vulnerable situations.
- The ecology. Decide whether to separate garbage, recycle and respect the environment, even if this requires additional effort.
- Respect. Decide on a courteous and respectful approach to others, for example, when waiting in line.
Importance of morality
Morality is necessary for coexistence in human communitiesA certain margin of prohibition, of behavioral discipline and of values has proven to be an advantage over anarchic social models.
However, The most moralistic societies are not necessarily the most prosperousAs societies prosper, their moral codes change and adapt to the new living conditions they have achieved.
In general, morality matters because it not only influences behavior, but it helps resolve situations and make decisions. For example:
- The dilemma of ethics at work. Morality helps you decide whether to report ethically questionable behavior in the workplace or stay out of it to protect your job.
- The dilemma of generosity. Morality helps make decisions such as whether or not to lend money to a friend or family member in need, which involves considerations of friendship, solidarity, and financial responsibility.
- The dilemma of medical decisions. Morality helps in delicate situations, such as when a loved one is in critical condition and life support must be maintained or withdrawn, which implies weighing the quality of life and respect for the patient’s preferences.
Difference between morals and ethics
Despite being similar concepts, morality and ethics have some differences.
Ethics must be understood as the philosophical discipline that studies the characters and rules that regulate the behavior of a given society. Morality, on the other hand, is the set of customs and beliefs that govern that society..
While every morality implies a certain ethic, it is not true that every ethic carries with it a moral. There may exist a set of ethical rules and procedures that do not apply or do not have a particular morality that accompanies them.
For example, an engineer may follow a set of rules and ethical principles designed specifically for his profession, addressing issues of safety, efficiency, and reliability, but these actions are not based on personal moral beliefs about right and wrong.
Origin of morality
For the Greeks, The “dwelling” was the set of relationships between the physical environment and the people. They called this abode “ethos” (with a long “e” in Greek) and it is what is known as ethics: the organization of physical space and human space according to criteria, values and principles.
However, in this dwelling, in addition to a specific organization, different customs, ways of relating and organizing also emerged. This is what was known as ethos but with a short “e”: moral. Morality as a set of customs forms the character (ethics) of people.
In the medieval world, the distinction between morality and ethics ceased to function. The word mor It was used for both customs and character. In any case, the difference was between theoretical morality, which studied principles, and practical morality, which analyzed the acts of experience.
Today, morality is thought of as what is done by custom in a specific community and time. Morality changes over time as people change, but it is always permeated by a particular type of ethics.
Moral codes
Moral codes are systems of norms and values that guide human behavior according to a solidly founded ethical framework. These codes are derived from ethical reflection and philosophical consideration of what constitutes morally acceptable conduct. Instead of being a simple list of rules, Moral codes seek to provide a coherent ethical structure that allows us to evaluate what is morally right or wrong in various situations.
A fundamental aspect of moral codes is their quest for universality. These codes strive to be applicable to all people, regardless of your culture or individual beliefs. They are based on ethical principles, such as justice, equality and respect for human dignity, and seek to maintain coherence and consistency in ethical decision-making.
Furthermore, moral codes are often applied in specific contexts, such as professional ethics in medicine or law, and are expected to reflect both individual and collective moral responsibility.
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