Every person in his life has encountered the concept of morality more than once. However, not everyone knows its true meaning. In the modern world, the problem of morality is very acute. After all, many people lead an incorrect and dishonest lifestyle. What is human morality? How does it relate to concepts such as ethics and morality? What behavior can be considered moral and why?
What does the concept of “morality” mean?
Very often morality is identified with morality and ethics. However, these concepts are not entirely similar. Morality is a set of norms and values of a particular person. It includes an individual’s ideas about good and evil, about how one should and should not behave in various situations.
Each person has his own criteria of morality. What seems completely normal to one is completely unacceptable to another. So, for example, some people have a positive attitude towards civil marriage and do not see anything bad in it. Others consider such cohabitation immoral and sharply condemn premarital relationships.
Principles of moral behavior
Despite the fact that morality is a purely individual concept, there are still common principles in modern society. First of all, these include the equality of rights of all people. This means that there should be no discrimination against a person on the basis of gender, race or any other basis. All people are equal before the law and the court, everyone has the same rights and freedoms.
The second principle of morality is based on the fact that a person is allowed to do everything that does not contradict the rights of other people and does not infringe on their interests. This includes not only issues regulated by law, but also moral and ethical standards. For example, deceiving a loved one is not a crime. However, from a moral point of view, the one who deceives causes suffering to the individual, which means he infringes on his interests and acts immorally.
The meaning of morality
Some people believe that morality is only a necessary condition for going to heaven after death. During life, it has absolutely no effect on a person’s success and does not bring any benefit. Thus, the meaning of morality is to cleanse our soul from sin.
In fact, such an opinion is erroneous. Morality is necessary in our lives not only for a specific person, but also for society as a whole. Without it, there will be arbitrariness in the world, and people will destroy themselves. As soon as eternal values disappear in a society and habitual norms of behavior are forgotten, its gradual degradation begins. Theft, debauchery, and impunity flourish. And if immoral people come to power, the situation worsens even more.
Thus, the quality of life of humanity directly depends on how moral it is. Only in a society where basic moral principles are respected and observed can people feel secure and happy.
Morals and ethics
Traditionally, the concept of “morality” is identified with morality. In many cases, these words are used interchangeably, and most people do not see a fundamental difference between them.
Morality represents certain principles and standards of behavior of people in various situations, developed by society. In other words, it is a public point of view. If a person follows established rules, he can be called moral, but if he ignores them, his behavior is immoral.
What is morality? The definition of this word differs from morality in that it does not apply to society as a whole, but to each individual person. Morality is a rather subjective concept. What is the norm for some is unacceptable for others. A person can be called moral or immoral based only on his personal opinion.
Modern morality and religion
Everyone knows that any religion calls a person to virtue and respect for basic moral values. However, modern society puts human freedom and rights at the forefront of everything. In this regard, some of God's commandments have lost their relevance. So, for example, few people can devote one day a week to serving the Lord because of their busy schedule and fast pace of life. And the commandment “thou shalt not commit adultery” for many is a restriction on the freedom to build personal relationships.
Classic moral principles regarding the value of human life and property, help and compassion for others, condemnation of lies and envy remain in force. Moreover, now some of them are regulated by law and can no longer be justified by supposedly good intentions, for example, the fight against infidels.
Modern society also has its own moral values, which are not outlined in traditional religions. These include the need for constant self-development and self-improvement, determination and energy, the desire to achieve success and live in abundance. Modern people condemn violence in all its forms, intolerance and cruelty. They respect human rights and his desire to live as he sees fit. Modern morality places emphasis on human self-improvement, transformation and development of society as a whole.
The problem of youth morality
Many people say that modern society has already begun to decay morally. Indeed, crime, alcoholism and drug addiction are thriving in our country. Young people do not think about what morality is. The definition of this word is completely foreign to them.
Very often, modern people put values such as pleasure, an idle life and fun at the forefront of everything. At the same time, they completely forget about morality, guided only by their selfish needs.
Modern youth have completely lost such personal qualities as patriotism and spirituality. For them, morality is something that can interfere with freedom and limit it. Often people are ready to commit any act to achieve their goals, without thinking at all about the consequences for others.
Thus, today in our country the problem of youth morality is very acute. Solving it will require more than a decade and a lot of effort on the part of the government.
Every person, even unconsciously, knows what morality is. Psychologists believe that this is the identification of the free will of each individual, based on certain principles and morals. From the moment we make our first, independent decision, personal, moral qualities begin to form in everyone.
What is morality?
The modern concept of “morality” appears to each person differently, but carries the same meaning. The formation of internal ideas and decisions in the subconscious originates from it, and social position is built on it. The society in which we live is accustomed to dictating its own rules, but this does not mean that everyone is obliged to follow them, because everyone has the right to be an individual.
Often people choose a partial deviation from their moral values in favor of a template and live their lives according to someone else's example. This leads to some disappointments, because you can lose the best years in finding yourself. Proper upbringing from a very young age makes a big impact on a person’s future fate. Considering what morality is, we can highlight some qualities inherent in it:
- kindness;
- compassion;
- honesty;
- sincerity;
- reliability;
- hard work;
- peacefulness.
Morality and moral values
Our society has increasingly begun to believe that this is a relic of the past. To achieve their goals, many go over their heads and such actions are completely contrary to the old days. Such a society cannot be called healthy and perhaps it is doomed to a meaningless existence. Fortunately, not everyone falls into the social funnel and the majority still remain honest and decent.
While searching for the meaning of life, a person develops his character and also develops high morality. Everything that parents have raised in a person can disappear over time or change in any direction. The world around us adjusts past values, perceptions and, in general, attitudes towards oneself and people, to create a comfortable existence. Now spiritual changes occur with the desire to earn more money and become financially independent.
Morality in psychology
Both ordinary people and psychologists have their own concepts of morality, from their own point of view, which can be completely different and never overlap, even if they are very similar. Each of the subspecies originates in the inner world of a person, his upbringing and values. The human psyche is divided by experts into two societies, each of which pursues its own goal:
- Collective values are herd instincts that, with their own world, can unite against the rest.
- Compassionate values are based on caring for one's neighbor for the benefit of any society.
Any objective morality is aimed at finding oneself as a socially secure, mature person. Psychologists believe that from birth a person is assigned to the first or second subgroup, and this is controlled by the individuals living with him and raising him. In the process of growing up and independently perceiving the world, re-education rarely occurs. If this does happen, then people who have changed themselves have very high fortitude and can go through any difficulties without changing themselves.
How is morality different from ethics?
Many people argue that morality and morality are synonymous, but this is a fallacy. Morality is considered to be a system established by society that regulates the relationships between people. Morality means following your own principles, which may differ from the attitudes of society. In other words, moral qualities are given to a person by society, and moral qualities are established by character and personal psychology.
Functions of morality
Since human morality is a phenomenon of social and spiritual life, it must imply certain functions that people perform in turn. Without even suspecting it, these tasks always occur in any modern society and, fortunately, are beneficial. Refusal of them entails loneliness and isolation, in addition to the inability to actively develop.
- Regulatory.
- Cognitive.
- Educational.
- Estimated.
Each of them is considered a goal and an opportunity for spiritual growth and development. Considering what morality is, existence without these functions is completely impossible. Society helps to develop and grow only those individuals who can control the opportunities within themselves that give rise to these goals. There is no need to specifically train them, all actions occur automatically, in most cases for the benefit.
Rules of morality
There are many rules that characterize morality, and we follow them almost without noticing it. Acting at the subconscious level, a person brings his mood, achievements, victories and much more into the world. Such formulations very closely embody what morality means in all its incarnations. Relationships in the world should be based on reciprocity for a comfortable existence.
By accepting these conditions, a person can learn to be kinder, more sociable and responsive, and a society consisting of such people will be similar to the ideal. Some countries are achieving this situation, and their number of crimes is significantly reduced, orphanages are closed as unnecessary, and so on. In addition to the golden rule, you can consider others, such as:
- sincere conversations;
- calling by name;
- respect;
- attention;
- smile;
- good nature.
What does the “golden” rule of morality sound like?
The basis of peace and culture is the golden rule of morality, which sounds like this: treat people as you would like them to treat you, or do not do to others what you do not want to receive for yourself. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to follow this, and this leads to an increase in the number of crimes and aggression in society. The rule tells people how to behave in any situation; you just have to ask yourself the question, how would you like it? The most important thing is that the solution to the problem is not dictated by society, but by the person himself.
Morality in modern society
Many people believe that the morality and ethics of modern society have now fallen greatly. Ahead of the rest of the planet are those who turn people into a herd. In fact, you can achieve a high financial position without losing morality; the main thing is the ability to think broadly and not be limited by stereotypes. Much depends on upbringing.
Modern children practically do not know the word “no”. Getting everything you want from a very early age, a person forgets about independence and loses respect for elders, and this is a decline in morality. In order to try to change something in the world, you need to start with yourself, and only then will there be hope for the revival of morality. By following good rules and teaching them to their children, a person can gradually change the world beyond recognition.
Education of morality
This is a necessary process in modern society. Knowing how morality is formed, we can fully hope for a happy future for our children and grandchildren. The influence on the human personality of people who are considered authorities for him, form in him unique qualities that have the greatest influence on his future fate. It is worth remembering that education is only the initial stage of personality development; in the future, a person is able to make decisions independently.
Spirituality and Morality
Two completely different concepts that very often intersect with each other. The essence of morality is good deeds, respect and so on, but no one knows why they are done. Spiritual kindness implies not only good deeds and behavior, but also purity of the inner world. Morality is visible to everyone, in contrast to spirituality, which is something intimate and personal.
Morality in Christianity
A similar combination of two concepts, but with the same different meaning. Morality and religion set common goals, where in one case there is freedom to choose actions, and in the other, complete submission to the rules of the system. Christianity has its own moral goals, but deviating from them, as in any other faith, is prohibited. Therefore, when converting to one of the religions, you need to accept their rules and values.
It is difficult for a modern person to distinguish, and sometimes he is not able to explain, “What morality” and “spirituality” are. The thinker sees how quickly views change, how a person’s idea of good and evil is deformed. Our time is aptly called a time of great dislike and lack of spirituality, although articles, blogs, songs, TV programs daily shout about the opposite.
What is morality?
Definition
There are many definitions of the term, but they all boil down to a common opinion. Moral− is the ability to take responsibility for your thoughts and actions.
Morality is a value, the internal state of a person, his life attitude, which allows him to accept any actions based on conscience.
Values form principles. Principles shape nature. Nature builds character.
In Ancient Greece, prudence, courage, and justice were emphasized. Over time, priorities have changed somewhat, but a general list of values that determine morality is determined:
- Honesty;
- loyalty;
- duty;
- Love;
- respect.
In ordinary life, it is difficult for us to find a person with such qualities, but the desire for personal excellence is necessary. These are impeccable values that act as absolute ethical ideals. Fair people, strong in spirit, with the capacity for all-encompassing love have always been respected, often acting as spiritual teachers.
A moral person will never change his concepts of honor, conscience, and goodness under any circumstances (including death). They are important to him in themselves, they are at the core of his life priorities, not because he waits for the approval of others, or receives material benefits for them. No. These are natural moral qualities for a developed personality that form the basis of human spirituality.
The connection between morality and human spirituality
In order to most clearly understand what morality is, let's give a definition of spirituality.
The most general definition of spirituality is:. Spirituality is the highest level of self-development, at which the highest human values become the regulator of life. Thus, spirituality is closely interconnected with morality. Morality is an indicator of the degree of spirituality of a person and society as a whole.
For the last 200 years, there has been a debate among humanities scholars on the topic of spirituality. Some argue that this is a person’s internal movement towards the “spiritual self,” others associate spirituality with intangible values that a person strives for, overcoming experiences and intrapersonal struggle.
Religions connect spirituality with the higher forces of divine nature, which manifests itself in human actions. However, all philosophers and theologians agree on one thing - spirituality is transcendental. It cannot be touched, weighed, measured. This is something that is not amenable to experimental knowledge, but is accepted a priori.
Spirituality– this is the brightest thing that can be found in a person: the best qualities of character, sincere feelings (love, gratitude, selflessness, tolerance), talents, generosity, responsibility.
Spiritual beauty is manifested in actions, behavior, emotions, words. However, there have been hundreds of such people since the time when man began to recognize himself as a Human and learned to use the brain not only for obtaining food and reproduction, but also for thinking.
Morality indicates the direction vector and provides the conditions for upward movement under which a person can grow and develop at the greatest speed.
Is spirituality an achievable outcome?
The concept of good and evil in the modern world has undergone significant transformations, although 70 years ago everything was transparent. “The little son came to his father, and the little one asked: What is good and what is bad?” V.V. In his children's poem, Mayakovsky clearly sets out the priorities that should form the basis of a moral, spiritual society.
Today there are no clear ideas about what Good (good) and Evil (bad) are; any action can be explained by playing with concepts in the most favorable direction. The original values were transformed: good means weak; honest means close-minded; polite means mannered, disinterested means definitely a fool.
Due to dissonance in the foundations, the spirituality of society declines, which is expressed in a person’s personal deformation, in the substitution of some values for others, an increase in violence and suffering. The concepts of “family,” “love,” and “mutual understanding” are disappearing.
Each state institution comes forward with its own “truth”; as a result, the original foundations of morality are destroyed. Children do not have a single idea of what they should strive for. The direction, the moral ideal, which underlies human self-development, and, consequently, the development of society, has been lost.
It is difficult to say whether a unified spirituality is achievable. Spiritual leaders meet, but as for the state, the question is open. The state is built on material components: power, money, dominance, lies, deceit. It is impossible to raise everyone to be ideal, and although the struggle for the souls of people is being waged at all levels of the state (family, school, church, media), mass positive successes have not been observed.
So is there any hope for building a moral, spiritual society? I would like to believe that there is, if everyone begins to build it in their souls.
What is morality? On the one hand, this is a very complex philosophical question that requires serious thought. On the other hand, we can usually quite clearly determine whether a person acted morally or not. Well, let's speculate.
If we dig deep, we will understand that since time immemorial, the source of morality has been the scriptures. In Christianity, it was the ten commandments of Christ that determined the moral code of man. Why do I speak in the past tense? Probably because there are not so many believing people now, religion no longer permeates all spheres of human existence as before. In addition, as culture and humanity develop, new moral and ethical standards appear in society.
But what is morality? Perhaps it should be understood as the spiritual qualities of a person, which are based on high ideals of goodness, duty, honor, justice and are manifested in relation to other people and nature. Morality is how the person himself evaluates his actions and behavior from the point of view of good. But everyone understands good in their own way. What is good for one is completely unacceptable for another. And where is the truth? I think morality lies precisely in seeing your actions not only as acceptable, but also as good for society. Immoral behavior makes a person promiscuous, ethically ugly and unworthy.
Is it possible to talk about the actions of children from a moral point of view? I’m afraid not, because the concept of “good” at a tender age is very vague, a child is simply not interested in analyzing his behavior and looking at it from the angle of some obscure morality. Children's actions are determined by a single criterion - “like”, “dislike”. And it is absolutely not a fact that, as a child grows up, he will acquire moral traits. Here a lot depends on upbringing and environment. Parents and schools become the first teachers of morality for children. I don't think morality can't be learned. On the contrary, it is possible and necessary. A person learns all his life, and it is not only about broadening his horizons, but also about self-education, changing priorities, and mastering new values.
You need to control your every step. As experience shows, someone who has committed an immoral act once cannot resist in the future. And here antimorality is born: a person becomes a liar, an opportunist, or even an outright rogue. Therefore, it seems to me that there is no need to shout about moral standards - it is better to behave in accordance with them. The moral principles of one person will become the moral principles of society only if he is guided by positive intentions and lives according to his conscience.
Morality and ethics are words that are used as synonyms. These terms can replace each other. Let's try to answer the question: morality?
In general, morality is the identification of free will, the internal attitude of the individual, which is based on special principles, norms and ideas. It is she who is able to determine how we will behave in a given situation. Moral qualities are formed in us every day and every minute, from the moment we began to make various kinds of decisions. The level of morality can characterize a person from different aspects. It is expressed both in a person’s attitude towards himself and towards the people around him.
Society sets its own ideals, but this does not mean that we should look like we just came out of an incubator. We must be Each of us must be a unique embodiment of social values, but an unusual embodiment. There are no templates, but everyone has their own.
However, it should be noted that almost everyone tries to repeat the actions and destinies of other people. We are inclined to do this, but such a position most often leads to disappointment. And the creative years are the most vulnerable in this regard. Often we get lost in life or in some situations. Loyalty changes into hypocrisy, and kindness into deception. What is understanding life, as well as evaluating any actions. This is a choice of conscience, which we make to some extent consciously, but to some extent not.
What is morality? How to characterize it? If there is such a concept, then it is certainly possible to identify individual qualities that could describe it. Moral qualities are compassion, honesty, kindness, lack of aggression, reliability, generosity, sincerity, peacefulness, hard work, decency and so on. Everyone can find and name their qualities. Of course, we must not forget about mutual understanding and love, as well as respect. They note that true love does not exist without mutual respect.
What is morality? If we consider representatives of individual professions, it should be said that a judge must have justice, a soldier must have courage, and for a doctor an important moral quality is compassion.
How to achieve the manifestation of such qualities in a child or adult? It's simple: appropriate upbringing will help you do everything as it should. Moral education is a rather complex process that must be purposeful. It is also a continuous process in which pauses are unacceptable. This is a close interaction between teacher and student. Of course, a teacher must have moral qualities. Raising a moral personality is not an easy task; it will require patience and a huge amount of time. By the way, many teachers cannot do this. Why? Yes, because they are too convinced of their methods and do not understand the importance of experimentation. Surprisingly, new things are too often inaccessible to these people.
Forming an identity is not so easy. In this case, the teacher must set and show an example in various life situations. Of course, every position in life must be explained and analyzed. Modern education requires special methods. It is necessary to take into account personalities, readiness to perceive this or that information, as well as to understand and analyze it. Every person has morality to one degree or another, only for some it “sleeps”, and for others it does not. You can wake her up. The methods are numerous. Just try to be better, kinder, wiser in everything.