What Is Morality?
Mark Twain once said; “It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” This enlightening statement stands out against many other quotes because it questions the morals people have. Twain is saying that numerous people have the ability to physically do things due to the fact that we do not have anything to stop us; however it is seldom that people choose whether or not to do something based on the idea of what if you are doing is wrong? Morality, to most people, is the ability to know right from wrong; however it is much more than that. Morality is the guideline to our lives, an essential way to think so we can live our lives without doing wrong to the world. Having your own beliefs is your form of morality; it is your state of mind. If we want to do something, despite the circumstances, we will usually make our minds think it is in fact morally “right”, when it could really be wrong. People do not have morals because it is a rule; people have morals due to the fact that they have a conscious. Unscrupulous people do not have the same morals as a scrupulous person. Your conscious helps you decide if you are following your morals, if you go against them you will feel corrupt after, and if you follow what you believe in you will feel virtuous after. The author Ernest Hemmingway also agreed with how making decisions about your morals will make you feel; “About morals, I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.” Someone with morals can absolutely make an immoral decision. Being moral does not mean you do not make bad decisions; being moral means when you do something you know if it was wrong or right. Morals are not based on what you do physically; it is how you feel about the decisions you made. Morals are a very diverse subject because everyone has different morals. No one thinks alike, that is why we are humans, and we are our own persons. Morals are not just things we do; it is what goes on in our minds. Our thoughts can be as immoral as an action; just because you did not do it does not mean you did not want to at one point. Our morals make us who we are, they are much more than a simple thought, idea, or rule; morals are our state of mind and our human nature. What does it mean to be moral? It means you know how to shape yourself into the best person you can be.
Thanks for this, Alex. I really liked the way you incorporated the quotes into your discussion. The Hemingway one really strikes me. So, you're saying that morals are not about making a bad decision but about realizing you've made a bad decision. I think that's a great distinction and I'd agree. Nobody expects somebody to be perfect. However, I would think that it's imperative to our moral development to admit to ourselves when we've strayed from our path.
ReplyDeleteHere's my question: What about the people who act in a way that you find morally reprehensible but that they justify?
Let's say a classmate hears from one of your friends that you cheated on a test. He then tells Ms. Kennett on a friday afternoon right before grades close for the semester.
Over the weekend Ms. Kennet somehow confirms that you've cheated. She calls you in Monday morning and informs you that you'll need to repeat the course- you won't graduate on time- etc.
Now, what the informant didn't know was that all week you were caring for your sick younger sister in the hospital (please don't tell me you actually have a sick younger sister, if you do- you have my sincerest apologies).
You've told yourself that weekend, even though you've passed the test- you're going to stay up all weekend if you have to to learn the information because that's what you should do. And you do it. It takes you 36 of the 48 weekend hours but you push though. You learn it all.
That 3rd party informant didn't know the situation but when you talk he says, "I was protecting the integrity of the class."
I'd be interested to hear what you or anyone else thinks.
Hemingway and Twain--in one post--you must still be missing American Literature! :) I like near the end of this how you suggest morality isn't just action but thought process--which makes people impossible to judge, to some extent--but then again, we shouldn't be judging morality. It's an intrinsic thing. Which brings up another point: who (even) is the concept of morality for? society? ourselves? If morality's goal is to "shape yourself into the best person you can be" it almost sounds like the purpose is transcendental: it's for self-improvement (another American lit concept??) :)
ReplyDeletei like how you connected having morals to the fact that people rely on their consciences not because of rules. Although, are they not the same thing? Aren't our morals our own personal rules on how we should live our lives, the right and wrong way?
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