Human morality - what is it. Examples, structure and functions

Morality - what is it?

The essence of this phenomenon was described by Mayakovsky in his famous poem about good and bad. There is a breakdown of the criteria of good and evil, how to act and what not to do. However, it should be taken into account that the author worked during the existence of the USSR, where communist ideology was present. For states of the bourgeois system, other norms of behavior “worked”. We can conclude that morality in social science is a set of rules of behavior and life that are approved by society.

Morality

Origin of morality

The term was coined by the ancient Roman scientist Cicero. Later, four approaches were formed to study the question of what morality is:

Religious . Its adherents believed that the source of morality is the absolute. To curb his passions, a person is forced to turn to God for help. Faith in him helps to follow the absolute rules of behavior.
Evolutionary . In the process of natural selection, a person acquires and inherits a certain line of behavior. According to this version, morality comes from the instinct of sociability of people.
Naturalistic . The root cause of morality is nature (either in general or in a person). The human mind defines natural moral values (including those within itself) as good or evil.
Cultural . Morality is one of the elements of society's culture.

Introduction

This topic of my essay is relevant, since it is morality that forms generally accepted norms of behavior, as well as regulates relationships between people and evaluates both their behavior and their actions. It goes without saying that with the help of morality, development occurs, as well as the formation of personality, and a person’s orientation in a value-oriented world occurs.

Based on the foregoing, outstanding scientists note a number of functions that will be considered during the work:

Evaluative-imperative function;
Cognitive function;
Communication function;

How is morality formed?

Worldviews improve as any social system matures. The formation of morality depends not only on the maturity of social foundations, but also on nationality and race, on the geographical location of the region where society lives. What morality is in social science can be understood by tracing the pattern of development of society. In the primitive communal and subsequent early formations of people, the principle of Talion (a tooth for a tooth) prevailed. In modern Western-style societies, the main moral law is tolerance.

Examples of morality

Whenever it comes to issues of moral behavior, there is an internal assessment of actions on a scale of good and evil. To say whether an action is moral or not, you need to take into account all the circumstances of the situation:

Tell only the truth, do not deceive anyone . However, the concept of morality will be absent if speaking truthfully can betray a friend.
Respect other people's right to their own lives . At the same time, euthanasia causes a mixed reaction in society.
Show generosity . However, giving too much can corrupt.
Be true . Shows of loyalty are moral as long as they do not turn into fanaticism.
Be a good citizen of society.
Live a selfless life . Altruism is the highest manifestation of morality. When moral responsibility for people goes beyond personal well-being.

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The structure of morality

The organization of social foundations has a complex multi-level structure. They can be formed in the following sectors:

Moral rules . They directly affect the relationships between people at the “lowest” social level.
Moral principles . This higher level is associated with the establishment of certain internal “laws” of the development of society. Their violation causes a negative reaction from the entire society.
Moral ideals . What is morality at this level? This is what a role model is and what this conglomerate of people strives for.

Functions of morality

They help fulfill the main task: to protect against bad deeds. The main purposes include:

Integrative function of morality . Designed to harmonize the individual's state of mind.
Evaluation function . It is associated with a person’s ability to determine the criteria for his actions on the “good-evil” scale.
Regulatory function . She is responsible for setting social norms that must be followed.
Controlling function . This is a check of the compliance of an individual's behavior with the norms established in society.
Educational function of morality . This is a mechanism for learning to live in society: how to learn to reckon with other people. He teaches to understand and accept their needs and interests.

Principles of morality

They are necessary for the formation of norms and rules that contribute to the correct development of social relationships. Basic principles of morality:

Taliona . Characteristic of the early stage of development of society. It says: "an eye for an eye." If any harm has been caused to a person, he must take revenge.
"The Golden Mean" . This means observing moderation in everything and not going to extremes. In relation to other people, you need to look for ways to compromise.
Morals . The principle involves observing God-given laws. Its main expression is found in the 10 commandments of Moses.
Prosperity . A person's actions should benefit as many people as possible.
Justice . It is based on the potential equality of all people before God. To each is measured according to his deeds.
Humanism . The set of norms of behavior boils down to the need to be tolerant and compassionate towards others. Living in society, it is advisable to strive to bring maximum benefit to it.

Definition of moral principles

Moral principles are a set of moral rules that apply to an individual, a group of individuals, or society as a whole. Most often acquired from childhood.

In other words, moral principles are requirements that must be strictly followed in all life situations.

The formation of moral principles is strongly influenced by upbringing, family relationships, religion, environment, and culture. What seemed unacceptable and reprehensible some time ago may become the norm and not cause condemnation. And vice versa: some things that were considered ordinary may become completely unacceptable.

It is moral principles that allow a person to choose the right path in life and influence decision-making in accordance with his conscience throughout his life, giving him a general direction for his activities.

Every person goes through several stages of moral development at different stages of his life, and his own moral principles can change under the influence of external factors.

Moral principles are something that is formed and can change throughout life, is relevant for a particular society and for each person separately, without these principles the existence of a harmonious society is impossible.

Categories of morality

These are general conceptual elements that describe this subject matter. Moral principles are based on them. Moral categories include:

good and evil as opposing criteria for evaluating phenomena;
justice is a measure of the distribution of benefits;
honor stands guard over compliance with a person’s internal code;
debt is something for which a person is responsible in life;
conscience is an indicator of critical assessment of actions;
happiness as a result of moral behavior.

Rules of morality

Each person has their own. Moral qualities depend on the level of personal development. However, humanity has developed universal rules of morality:

Golden rule: don’t do to someone else what you wouldn’t want them to do to you.
Be honest with yourself. This means being able to admit your own mistakes.
Put yourself in another person's shoes. This will help you feel people better.
Control the manifestations of negativity in yourself.
The first impression may be false. After all, what is morality if not the search for a deeper meaning.

Lack of moral principles

A complete absence of moral principles is impossible - a person in any case has some idea of what can and cannot be done. These ideas may differ significantly from those generally accepted in a particular society, then such a person may be called immoral. If a person stops developing his personality, stops setting goals and guidelines for himself, then he begins to degrade. Along with this, a regression of formed moral norms and rules begins.

What is immoral behavior?

This is a violation of moral principles, expressed in actions. Immoral behavior is directly related to weak spiritual and moral attitudes of the individual. Another reason is commitment to human vices. If an individual behaves immorally, it means that his parents and society did not instill in him certain standards of behavior that are considered moral in society. Further circumstances of life (the environment or being at the bottom of the social ladder) developed in him his own internal moral consciousness. It began to contradict morality in society.

Moral principles of communication

Moral norms and principles in the context of communication:

self-respect and showing respect to interlocutors;
priority of other people's or public interests over personal ones;
conscious avoidance of using life's benefits for the sake of achieving a set goal;
tackling complex social problems and working under extreme conditions for higher goals or ideals;
responsibility and free care for those in need;
building relationships with members of society based on kindness and benevolence;
recognition of the inviolability of the personal dignity of each person;
politeness and respect for the interlocutor, the use of generally accepted ethical standards;
communication is a two-way process, not a monologue, each participant contributes to it;
equality of parties participating in communication, regardless of gender, age, social status;
sincerity in expressing feelings, truthfulness of transmitted information;
clarity and accessibility for all participants in communication;
consistency and correct order of communication elements, for example, question-answer, encouragement to respond.

Law and morality - similarities and differences

Common features of these concepts:

Law and morality are intended to be regulators of social relationships. Both have social status.
Both systems in their modern form arose on the basis of development experience.
They are based on society’s ideas about good and evil, social justice.
They take into account the needs and interests of individuals in a specific manifestation (for example, protection of personality, property, life).

Morality and law differ in the following positions:

Moral standards arise in society itself. Legal laws create special bodies according to strictly regulated rules. They also control their implementation.
Moral standards are transmitted orally (rarely when specifically written down). Legal postulates are always spelled out in official documents.
What is morality if not a set of different meanings of existence for different strata of society. Legal norms are the same for all citizens. They do not allow for differences of interpretation.

Classification of moral principles

A person recognizes moral principles as behavior that determines the nature of relationships in society.

The following moral principles are distinguished:

The principle of humanism is the highest human value, which is expressed in love for one’s neighbor, protection of dignity, recognition of the right to a happy existence and self-realization.
The principle of altruism is a moral norm that calls for providing selfless support to those in need.
The principle of collectivism is the possibility of coexistence to achieve a common goal. It consists of cooperation, mutual assistance, and democracy.
The principle of justice is equal rights and freedoms for all members of society. Social and economic benefits are available to everyone without exception and are distributed depending on the amount of effort on the part of each person.
The principle of mercy is the willingness to sympathize and help those who ask, regardless of social status and appearance.
The principle of peacefulness is based on the recognition of human life as the highest value. It assumes respect for national and regional characteristics and state sovereignty. Peacefulness helps maintain social order and mutual understanding between generations.
The principle of patriotism is love for the Motherland, care for it, readiness to defend it from enemies, pride in state achievements, respect for history and respect for national property.
The principle of tolerance means respect, acceptance and correct understanding of the rich diversity of cultures of our world, forms of self-expression and ways of manifesting human individuality. In other words, accepting the diversity of cultures without the desire to suppress or correct them.