Morality
Morality is a set of rules, judgments and intuitions about what is considered good, bad, right or harmful.
Definition
Morality includes both personal beliefs and social norms. In practice, it influences decisions, responsibility, assessment of consequences and the way others are treated. Mature moral reflection requires not only a sense of being right, but also taking into account facts, perspectives and consequences of action.
Key ideas
- Assessment of good and harm
- Social norms
- Responsibility for the consequences
Practice and life
When making a difficult decision, write down: who will be affected by my choice, what values are in conflict and what harm I can limit.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to confuse morality with immediate outrage. The second mistake is to use your own rules without considering their effects on others.
> Morality begins where a decision affects someone more than just me.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- Who is affected by this decision?
- What values are in conflict?
- What response minimizes harm and maintains responsibility?