Its what societies determine to be right and acceptable.
Sometimes, acting in a moral manner means individuals must sacrifice their own short-term interests to benefit society.
Individuals who go against these standards may be considered immoral.
Stock Planets / E+ / Getty Images
It may be helpful to differentiate between related terms, such asimmoral,nonmoral, andamoral.
Each has a slightly different meaning:
How Morals Are Established
Morality isnt fixed.
Whats considered acceptable in your culture might not be acceptable in another culture.
Geographical regions, religion, family, and life experiences all influence morals.
Scholars dont agree on exactly how morals are developed.
There are different theories as to how morals are developed.
However, most theories acknowledge the external factors (parents, community, etc.)
that contribute to a child’s moral development.
These morals are intended to benefit the group that has created them.
Morals That Transcend Time and Culture
Most morals arent fixed.
They usually shift and change over time.
In some regions, cultures, and religions, using contraception is considered immoral.
7 Universal Morals
Some morals seem to transcend across the globe and across time, however.
Morality vs. Ethics
Some scholars dont distinguish betweenmorals and ethics.
Both have to do with right and wrong.
However, some people believe morality is personal while ethics refer to the standards of a community.
For example, your community may not view premarital sex as a problem.
But on a personal level, you might consider it immoral.
By this definition, your morality would contradict the ethics of your community.
Both have firm foundations in the concept that everyone should have autonomy and show respect to one another.
Legal thinkers interpret the relationship between laws and morality differently.
Some argue that laws and morality are independent.
This means that laws cant be disregarded simply because theyre morally indefensible.
Others believe law and morality are interdependent.
These thinkers believe that laws that claim to regulate behavioral expectations must be in harmony with moral norms.
Something like adultery may be considered immoral by some, but its legal in most states.
There may be times when some people argue that breaking the law is the moral thing to do.
Merriam-Webster.A lesson on ‘unmoral,’ ‘immoral,’ ‘nonmoral,’ and ‘amoral.’
Testing the theory of morality-as-cooperation in 60 societies.
2019;60(1):47-69. doi:10.1086/701478
Encyclopdia Britannica.What’s the difference between morality and ethics?
Moka-Mubelo W.Law and morality.
In:Reconciling Law and Morality in Human Rights Discourse.
Springer International Publishing; 2017:51-88. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-49496-8_3
