Template:Morality

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 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.

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.