Understanding Morality and Ethics: A Comprehensive Analysis
Understanding Morality and Ethics
Morality: It can be defined as the set of norms and values accepted by a society, which usually forms a system of rules of behavior or a moral code. Human acts related to the moral code are called moral facts. These are actions taken consciously, freely, and voluntarily. According to their conformity to the moral code, we distinguish three types of acts:
- Moral acts: Those that conform to the standards of morality, like paying taxes in full.
- Immoral acts: Those that do not meet the standards of morality contained in the moral code, such as driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Amoral acts: Those that are unrelated to any moral standard (like taking a nap).
Ethics: The Study of Moral Behavior
Ethics: Ethics is a discipline that deals with the morality of human acts, examining the moral behavior of individuals. Therefore, ethics reflects on freedom and responsibility for the actions of human beings. Unlike other sciences, ethics focuses on how individuals should behave and the reasons behind their actions.
The Autonomous Stage of Moral Development
During the autonomous stage, individuals shape their character by accepting and rejecting moral values and norms. From adolescence, the subject begins to rethink values acquired during an earlier stage. This is a decisive stage because youth forge their own moral personality, a task that lasts a lifetime. In adolescence, we want to be responsible, that is, act autonomously and set standards for ourselves.
Classical Ethics in Ancient Greece
Greece was the cradle of philosophy and, hence, of ethics. Sophists reasoned that moral thought were inventions of human beings, dependent on the point of view of each society and person. One of the great philosophers was Socrates, who formulated the first theory of ethics. Reflecting on the great moral issues, he rebelled against the theories of the Sophists. Socrates, and later Plato and Aristotle, defended the existence of a universal moral code that indicates to all human beings what they should and should not do. These moral concepts can be known rationally and are absolute, and therefore independent of the different viewpoints of individuals. The most important philosophical schools were:
Stoicism: Adapting to the Universe
Stoicism: Founded by Zeno. He believed that the universe was governed by laws to which man must adapt. Happiness is attained by austerity, impassivity, and nonchalance.
Epicureanism: The Pursuit of Pleasure
Epicureanism: The most representative figure was Epicurus. The purpose of life was pleasure; therefore, everything should rejoice that would be pleasant and enjoyable.
Marxist Ethics: Social and Economic Justice
Marxist Ethics: Denounced the social and economic injustices brought about by capitalism. Karl Marx started, like Epicurus, with the idea that the material aspects surrounding our life are all there is. He did not believe in spiritual realities, and believed people could only prevent injustice by their own strength. Human beings are social and need others to meet their needs. The values and standards may change depending on the type of relationships established. In capitalism, the relations established a clear separation between rich and poor. Besides the dominant classes, the bourgeoisie, imposing its values on the oppressed. According to Marxism, communism would bring revolution.
Nihilism and Existentialism: Freedom and Meaning
Nihilism and Existentialism: Friedrich Nietzsche became critical of religion and morality from a radical atheistic perspective. He proclaimed the death of God and disqualified the Western tradition. Therefore, there was no right or wrong, and no obligations could be placed on human beings. In the twentieth century, the existentialist movement arose, which considered human beings to be free. Jean-Paul Sartre denied the existence of God. The essence of people is that they are free and open-ended. Ultimately, the existentialists argue that:
- Every human being has the meaning of life that he decides.
- Nothing and no one should dictate the behavior of another.
- Each person is the author of their own rules.
The most important thing is to decide in freedom. Human freedom means accepting responsibility for their actions. Sartre suggests the need to live with others.