Morals are the beliefs or prevailing standards of behavior that enable people to live cooperatively in groups such as in society, communities, or collectives, where beliefs are more the result of individul conviction and standards are the result of agreement or some form of mutual consent.
Moral often refers to what legal or civil societies sanction as right and acceptable, good or evil, legal or illegal.
Moral principles may transcend ages and cultures, such as what is considered just and fair according to Natural Law.
What is naturally Moral should be universal such Natural is not subject to the opininions of men and therefore social issues are the product of right reasoning, not the rule making of an autocratic authority created by civil law.
Social virtues suggest the interaction of members of society, such as gratitude which is the virtuous and natural reaction to the virtue of generosity.
For virtue to be real, it must be the result of choice.
Morality
Morality is the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.
It may include a differentiation of intentions. It may also be connected to a particular system of values and principles of conduct, especially one held by a society including the extent to which an action is right or wrong.
Morality comes from the Latin moralitas which means the "manner, character of proper behavior". What is considered to be ethical or a normative ethical systems which may consider the merits of actions themselves in relationship to the rights of others.
Morality can be a body of standards or principles derived from a code of conduct from a particular philosophy, religion, or culture, or it can derive from a standard that a person believes should be universal. Some times governments try to become the supreme moral dictator[1] of society.
In determining those "values and principles" and what is moral or immoral one would often need to look no farther than the Golden Rule, which states that: "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself."
Universal morality
Morality may include the sense of universal ethics which describes the particular values of mankind or in the sense of social morality of a specific group at a specific point in time and therefore the result of subjective opininions.
Morality has been connected to religious traditions when religion was the way in which you fulfilled a "moral duty" to the Creator of life and your fellowman.
If the view of nature includes an "unmoved mover" or God morality is the result of something beyond the subjective opinion of men.
The Greeks
Social Virtues may be so closely related to the moral virtues that they may not even be distinguishable from them. They are generally viewed as the virtues or traits of character that promote social harmony.
Socrates uses the term courage in Plato's Republic in place of "civic virtue". Since all city-states justified their legal system by the gods there is no distinction between spiritual virtue, mandated by a higher being, and civic virtue by the laws or customs of civil society. If virtue is the “character muscle” of the individual, Social Virtues can be described as the sinew of society.
Aristotle advises that of man takes pleasure in virtue he will not only achieve the greatest happiness his society will also be great. Knowledge of these virtues and their promotion through the structures of society are the only moral hope for a better community.
Aristotle believed that a person "well brought up" at home will be more accepting and conducive to the practice of both civic and moral virtues.[2]
The Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle were followed by Thomas Aquinas who believed the greatest good comes when ordained by God through the hearts, hands, and mind of men who accept The Way of God, which is righteousness.
Subjective morality
While social or legal morality is not fixed beyond the opinions of men. Ethics which is said to be the "moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity" which is intended to produce a positive outcome will also be subject to those social or collective opinions.
While all successful societies will have forms or standards of morality the less individual right there is to pursue the happiness associated with a moral life the less success it is likely to enjoy.
Standards of Morality
Standards of morality and ethics demonstrate a significance and importance in stabilizing the world of business, employment, and government.
Virtue, by definition, is the moral excellence of a person, and a morally excellent person has a character made-up of virtues valued as good. That would mean they are honest, respectful, courageous, forgiving, and kind, just as examples.[3]
Do unto others what you would others do unto you because what you do to others shall be done unto you. What goes around comes around.
Golden rule
A definition of the golden rule is: "a basic principle that should be followed to ensure success in general or in a particular activity."
It is a fundamental element and principle manifested in a free Society and community.
We see an example of a biblical rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” in Matthew 7:12.
The Golden Rule, or Golden law of reciprocity, is the principle of treating others according to the standards by which you would wish to be treated. It might not always bring about a moral conclusion, but it assumes that you would want others to help you if you were in need. But some assume an indifference to mutual aid, which may not be the case when a need arises.
In practice, it is normally thought to be a maxim of altruism seen in many religions and cultures.
The maxim may appear as either a positive or negative injunction governing conduct:
A positive or directive form or view is that one should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.[4]
A negative or prohibitive form is that one should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated.[5]
An empathic or responsive form is that what you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself.[6]
The Golden Rule is a unilateral moral commitment to the well-being of others, without the expectation of anything in return.
"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10[7]
The concept occurs in some form in nearly every religion and ethical tradition.
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Matthew 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Moses even instituted the sacrifice of the Red Heifer, which was merely a form of foreign aid. This, like in the days of Abraham, made the Israelites a cherished inhabitant of any border state.
The golden rule is by its nature a subjective concept, since it is based on the feelings of how you would like to be treated. But because it is practiced in the law of nature, which is not subjective by its definition, the practicality and end result of the rule becomes less and less subjective and more and more objective[9].
This brings us to the "royal[10] law". In the Kingdom of God, there is no king of men over men. Every man is king in his own home and every woman queen. Each family holds the potestas and imperium of the State in the ultimate division of power, and any leader chosen is only titular. The power rests with the people to rule themselves. This means that the responsibility of rule rests with the people, which in turn is why "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute." Proverbs 12:24
The true practice of the Golden Rule facilitates the Royal Law so that men may remain free souls under God, which is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God comes when the will of God is done. Man's view of that divine will is subject, but since the will of God is the Law of Nature, it is the ultimate objective reality by definition. As you judge may be subjective, but the truth that you shall be judged is objective.
So you should do unto others what you would have them do unto you, because in the Law of Nature, what goes around comes around accordingly in the mean ratio[11] of time and space.
"This Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People." is attributed to the General Prologue to the John Wycliffe Bible translation of 1384, as quoted in Lincoln at Gettysburg : An Address (1906) by Clark Ezra Carr, p. 75. [1]
↑President Bill Clinton's Executive Orders 13083] signed May 14, 1998, from the office of the Press Secretary in Birmingham, England, entitled Federalism declares the "Federal law," has the supreme power, "to define the moral, political, and legal character of their lives." Sec. 2. (d) "The people of the States are at liberty, subject only to the limitations in the Constitution itself or in Federal law, to define the moral, political, and legal character of their lives." Federal Government claiming it self as having the supreme powers unless prohibited by the constitution as we see in subsection "(b) The Constitution created a Federal Government of supreme, but limited, powers. The sovereign powers not granted to the Federal Government are reserved to the people or to the States, unless prohibited to the States by the Constitution." seem to contradict the 10 Amendment which limited powers to those delegated to the Federal government by that original Constitution. While it does recognize the "sovereign powers ... reserved to the people" it does mention "unless prohibited to the States by the Constitution". Many fear that the Federal government may deny or disparage rights and powers retained by the people according to the limitations of the 9th amendment. But the question must arise have the people truly retained those rights and responsibilities. While it went on to say in the same section, "(g) Policies of the Federal Government should recognize the responsibility of--and should encourage opportunities for--States, local governments, private associations, neighborhoods, families, and individuals to achieve personal, social, environmental, and economic objectives through cooperative effort."
↑Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;
↑Virtue includes the desire to do what is morally right. Virtue begins with the good condition of the heart. (See Luke 19:1-10: Zacchaeus began with desire, and in the end, he gave to the poor). Feigned friendliness or patience is not virtue. Virtue stems from sincere humility with God. Virtue attends real repentance. Zacchaeus was chief among the publicans, and rich, but changes happened to him after he met Jesus.
↑ The Egyptian Ma'at contains the proverb from around 1850 BC: "Now this is the command: Do to the doer to make him do."
"If people regarded other people's families in the same way that they regard their own, who then would incite their own family to attack that of another? For one would do for others as one would do for oneself." — Mozi in 400 BC who opposed Confucianism.
The Hindu Sanskrit epic Mahābhārata Shānti-Parva says " Hence, (keeping these in mind), by self-control and by making dharma (right conduct) your main focus, treat others as you treat yourself."
"Treat your inferior as you would wish your superior to treat you." The Stoic Philosophy of Seneca
↑A papyrus from Egypt around 400 BC contains a negative affirmation: "That which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another."
"Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself." — Confucius in 500 BC.
In the Tirukkuṛaḷ 400 AD Tiruvalluvar says: "Why does a man inflict upon other creatures those sufferings, which he has found by experience are sufferings to himself?" (K. 318) "Let not a man consent to do those things to another which, he knows, will cause sorrow."
Zoroastrianism from 300: "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing to another whatsoever is not good for itself." Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5,
and "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29
↑Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD.
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." — Laozi 500 BC founder of philosophical Taoism.
↑Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Matthew 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
↑Objective: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.
↑ 937 ~βασιλικός~ basilikos \@bas-il-ee-kos’\@ from 935 [king] probably from 939 βάσις basis meaning foot and from baino (to walk); adj AV-nobleman 2, royal 2, king’s country + 3588 1; 5
1) of or belong to a king, kingly, royal, regal
1a) of a man, the officer or minister of a prince, a courtier
2) subject to a king
2a) of a country
3) befitting or worthy of a king, royal
4) metaph. principal, chief
↑ The golden ratio is also called the golden mean or golden section (Latin: sectio aurea) extreme and mean ratio. In mathematics, two quantities are in the golden ratio if their ratio is the same as the ratio of their sum to the larger of the two quantities. 1.6180339887498948482
