Morality: Freedom, Action, and Character
Morality
Morality stems from freedom, shaping individuals as builders of their own lives and moral beings responsible for their actions.
Action: Free Moral Action
Human action, unlike animal behavior driven by instinct, is characterized by flexibility and learning. This open and free nature makes humans accountable for their choices. Individuals reflect, decide, and act, becoming authors of their actions. This capacity for intervention forms the basis of moral character, unique to humans. Freedom allows actions to conform to or deviate from societal norms. Acting according to assumed rules is moral; deviating is immoral. However, humans cannot be amoral; they are inherently moral beings.
Definition of Morality
The word “moral” (from Latin moralis) relates to customs. Each society and individual has customs, collectively forming their morals. Morality can be defined as the code of rules regulating correct individual and collective action. Morality has two aspects:
- Moral Content: Specific rules and principles governing behavior, such as respecting parents and protecting children.
- Moral Structure: The inherent features of human nature. Our open nature necessitates consistent choices and actions, resulting from free will. We are obliged to choose, either conforming to or opposing rules. In any situation, we must decide; inaction is also a decision. Freedom allows choice, but we cannot choose not to choose. Humans cannot be amoral; they possess and are bound by rules, whether they comply or not.
Action, Habit, and Character
From the perspective of moral content, individual acts express human moral character. Each action is moral or immoral based on whether it adheres to or violates rules. Morality extends beyond isolated actions to encompass habits and character. Habits are tendencies to act in certain ways in similar situations. A person’s habits define their character, distinguishing them from others. While influenced by predispositions, character is formed through repeated actions. It is not fixed but built gradually, although significant events can cause abrupt changes (conversion). Character is shaped daily by our actions; once formed, it strongly influences our behavior. The more ingrained the character, the harder it is to act against it. Character is the foundation of our moral nature, conditioning our actions and their correctness.
Moral Standards
A moral standard is a rule establishing how we should act in a given situation, reflecting what we believe is preferable. Standards belong to the realm of what should be, not what is. Moral standards imply obligation, not as an inevitable necessity but as a directive compelling us to act. This obligation presupposes freedom; we can choose to comply or not. Moral rules have a dual character: prescriptive and obligatory. Standards have two dimensions:
- Social Dimension: All communities have rules governing behavior and relationships, either explicit (positive law) or implicit (customs).
- Personal Dimension: Moral standards require not just compliance but conviction. Individuals must recognize standards as their own, not just socially imposed. Moral conscience accepts and assimilates these rules, judging the correctness of actions.
Psychologists like Piaget and Kohlberg studied the development of moral conscience and how individuals relate to standards. Kohlberg established six stages of moral development:
- Stage 1: Obedience and fear of punishment (egoism).
- Stage 2: Following rules for self-interest (individualism).
- Stage 3: Meeting expectations of others (gregariousness).
- Stage 4: Observing socially established rules for the common good (communitarianism).
- Stage 5: Recognizing diverse opinions and values, adhering to legitimately agreed-upon rules (relativism).
- Stage 6: Freely and rationally choosing rules based on universal principles and values (universalism).
According to Kohlberg, moral maturity is achieved when conscience recognizes and justifies rules based on universal principles or values. Only about 5% of adults reach the final stage; physical and psychological maturity does not always equate to moral maturity.