Having Morals: Why we should

Morality can be defined as a code of conduct that has been put forward by the society or a group. Behavior that is considered moral by one group may be disregarded or frown upon by another group. One of the major influences of morality is religion. Many people are likely to behave in a way that is acceptable to their religion. For instance, though abortion may be allowed by the law, some Christians and Muslims may not even consider it as an option. Morality therefore goes beyond legality to include a person’s sense of right and wrong. The principle of doing unto others what you would like them to do unto you is a universally accepted principle. People want to be treated in a manner that will please them and they will therefore strive to treat others in a similar manner. It is not always easy to do so and sometimes a kind gesture is not always appreciated. Justice is not always served in this situations but that does not mean that a person should stop doing good to the others.

One of the reasons why people should live by a moral code is for the sake of peace and stability in the world. The choices that people make affect the lives of those around them. Most people live by a moral code whether they know it or not. Though many crimes occur daily, a large proportion of the population would rather live in peace with their neighbors. If people lived freely by doing what they wanted to do, there would be no hope for the human race. A society in which people strive to live together in peace and cooperation is a society that makes exacting moral demands on all of its members (Childs, 1991). People have different personalities and perspectives in life. A person who advocates for prostitution may not see anything big in that. To that person, prostitution may be the way out of poverty and a means to provide for his or her family. Such a person has a different view of morality than the rest. Another person would rather suffer because of poverty rather than engage herself in prostitution. Engaging in such an activity might be going against her principles.

Another reason why people should live by a moral code is for the sake of continuity of human race. Children grow up knowing moral values that has been taught to them by their parents, who were in turn taught by their parents. There are those who do not have people who they can emulate and they look up to the society for guidance (Kant, 1996). In a society where moral values are not upheld, some will find it difficult to distinguish between the right and the wrong. For instance, a serial killer may justify his actions by saying that he was ridding the society of evil. In this case, the person may actually find the society unjust for wanting to punish him for his actions. Another situation that might seem controversial where morality is concerned is the issue of mercy killings. A medical practitioner may end the life of his patient slowly, by giving them an overdose or using some other means, when trying to ease the patient’s pain.

Moral dilemmas are part of everyday life and they are not always easy. Sometimes a person may face a situation where his personal beliefs conflict with that of the society. He might feel convicted about his personal opinion and yet to the eyes of the society, his choice may be morally wrong. There is no clear answer on how such a situation can be handled and it is at such times where he will disappoint one of the groups. Such situations have led to the start of many conflicts but they cannot be avoided. Most people would rather disappoint the society or a group rather than go against their conviction (Narveson, 1999). Most people want to live in peace and they will do anything to achieve that. They will therefore treat each other in a way that they would want their neighbors to treat them. There is still hope for humanity as moral values are passed from one generation to the next. The society also has an obligation to instill moral value on the people.

References

Childs, L. J. (1991). Education and morals: An experimentalist philosophy of education. Manchester, NH: Ayer Publishing

Kant, I. (1996). The metaphysics of morals. Cambridge, United Kingdom: CambridgeUniversity Press

Nerveson, J. (1999). Moral matters. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press