Moral values (rights and Duties; Good and Virtues)
Man has the quality of thinking, if he makes this process so far as he becomes able to establish a relation with itself, through this process of thinking, in the sense that he does not see itself simply as an executor of the actions, but simultaneously as observer, as a judge. So through this report man establishes a dialogue with himself, feels associated with himself and physically alone. The realization of this potential that every person carries makes the man a person and his activity starting from himself and others shows a Personality.
Moral values are the standards of good and evil, which govern an individual‟s behavior and choices. Individual‟s morals may derive from Society and government, religion, or self. When moral values derive from society and government they, of necessity, may change as the laws and morals of the society change. An example of the impact of changing laws on moral values may be seen in the case of marriage vs. “living together.”
Value is a mixture of three concepts such as Idea, Quality and Supervening. Values can be defined as the principles that guide people’s lives, and have varying significance. Values are the essence of our personality, and affect us to make decisions, trust people, and arrange our time and energy in our social life. Values may be treated as keys to solving many world problems.
The term „duty‟ is sometimes used in a narrower sense to mean simply what is legally binding or obligatory upon an individual, and an individual is said to do more than his duty if he does more than what he is legally bound to do. In Ethics, however, the word „duty‟ is taken in a wider and higher sense to signify every right act which one ought to perform, whether determinate or indeterminate, whether legally obligatory or not. Hence, from strictly moral or ethical point of view, an individual can never be said to do more than his duty.
Duty comes to an individual with a claim; it is a thing laid upon an individual to do whether he likes it or not. A duty may thus be defined as the obligation of an individual to satisfy a claim made upon him by the community, or some other individual member or members of that community, in the name of common good.
If taken in a wide sense, the notion of duty is essentially implied in every system of morality and every ethical theory.
In Greek Ethics, moral life for the most part is presented as a good to be realised or a type of virtue or excellence to be attained. A man must be courageous, temperate and just, because in no other way can be achieved his good or true happiness. So long as the mode of presenting the moral life prevailed, the element of duty was completely absorbed into, and subordinated to, the thought of good or achievement.
The Human Rights with which morality is concerned, may be classified as following:-
The Physical Rights of an individual–rights to life and limb, to exemption from assault, to free movement are protected since olden days by the provision in law of an act of “Habeas Corpus“. But in morals it is of wider significance, forbidding us to do anything that risks accident to others, imposes cruelties, or prevents others from leading a wholesome life. Morality rebelled against slavery. It rebels against any industrial conditions wherein profit is made at the expense of human life or human safety. (From the moral viewpoint, the use of an Industry is not profit, but service. Use is indeed above man, and if use calls for sacrifice even of life, it is noble to respond to that call. But profit is not a use in itself; wherefore the Writings call such business as is carried on merely for profit, “Jewish trading”.) The Writings clearly allow to the State a legitimate right to limit the individual’s right to protection, or physical life. Imprisonment and even the death-penalty are thus not condemned in the Doctrine.
The neighbor has also Mental Rights which must be considered. Excessive, gruelling, or debasing labor grinds down man’s character and produces a mental stagnation which negates his opportunities to develop in truly human directions. Utter idleness also tends to produce degeneration in the mind’s poise and power. Too great luxury and lack of responsibilities have similar effects. So far as it depends on us, we must therefore not encourage such conditions with those who come under our proper authority.
Children have a right to a proper Education, for this looks to a future use intelligently performed. Denial of a right to some kind of education is thus in itself immoral. In the New Church, the right of the child to instruction in worship and doctrine is implied in the baptismal act.
Mental rights are largely associated with that freedom of thought and speech and press and religion and education, which is ever the bulwark of progress. Such Liberty is also recognized as a guarantee against disorderly rebellions: for it shows that the ordering of the State is in the hands of those who can persuade acceptance of their ideas and support for their plans.
Virtues are the essence of our character and when we keep the practice of virtues at the heart of everyday life, we live with purpose. Virtue, by definition, is the moral excellence of a person. A morally excellent person has a character made-up of virtues valued as good.
Mazor Good Virtues are:-
Wisdom enables us to make reasoned decisions that are both good for us and good for others. Wisdom tells us how to put the other virtues into practice when to act, how to act, and how to balance different virtues when they conflict (as they do, for example, when telling the honest truth might hurt someone‟s feelings). Wisdom enables us to discern correctly, to see what is truly important in life, and to set priorities.
Justice means respecting the rights of all persons. Since we are persons ourselves, justice also includes self-respect, a proper regard for our own rights and dignity.
Fortitude enables us to do what is right in the face of difficulty. The right decision in life is often the hard one.
Self- control is the ability to govern ourselves. It enables us to control our temper, regulate our sensual appetites and passions, and pursue even legitimate pleasures in moderation. It‟s the power to resist temptation. It enables us to wait and to delay gratification in the service of higher and distant goals.
Love is the willingness to sacrifice for the sake of another. A whole cluster of important human virtues Empathy, compassion, kindness, generosity, service, loyalty, patriotism (love of what is noble in one‟s country), and forgiveness make up the virtue of love,
Moral values are the principles that guide our decisions and actions. They are the standards by which we judge ourselves and others. Moral values are often based on religious beliefs, but they can also be based on secular beliefs or simply on what we believe is right and wrong.
There are many different moral values, but some of the most common include:
- Rights: Rights are the things that we believe we are entitled to, simply because we are human beings. These include things like the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- Duties: Duties are the things that we believe we are obligated to do, because they are the right thing to do. These include things like helping others in need, telling the truth, and keeping our promises.
- Good: The good is the ideal that we strive for in our lives. It is the highest standard of morality that we can achieve. The good life is one that is lived in accordance with our moral values. The good person is one who acts in accordance with their moral values. The good society is one that is based on moral values.
- Virtue: Virtue is the quality of being good. It is the opposite of vice. Virtue is often associated with strength, courage, and self-control. The cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. The theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity. The intellectual virtues are wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and judgment. The moral virtues are courage, temperance, justice, and prudence.
Moral values are important because they help us to live good lives. They provide us with a compass to guide our decisions and actions. They help us to make choices that are in line with our beliefs and values. They also help us to live in harmony with others.
There are many different ways to learn about moral values. We can learn about them from our parents, our teachers, our religious leaders, and our friends. We can also learn about them from books, movies, and television shows. We can even learn about them from our own experiences.
The most important thing is to think about what we believe is right and wrong. We need to decide what kind of person we want to be and what kind of society we want to live in. Once we have a good understanding of our own moral values, we can start to live our lives in accordance with them.
Moral values are not always easy to follow. There will be times when we are tempted to do the wrong thing. But if we stick to our moral values, we will be able to live good lives and make a positive difference in the world.
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the following topics:
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What is ethics?
Ethics is the study of morality and how to live a good life. It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of good and evil, right and wrong, and justice. -
What are the different types of ethics?
There are many different types of ethics, but some of the most common include:- Deontological ethics is based on the idea that certain actions are right or wrong regardless of their consequences.
- Consequentialist ethics is based on the idea that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its consequences.
- Virtue ethics is based on the idea that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by whether it is consistent with the virtues of a good person.
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What are some ethical principles?
Some common ethical principles include:- Autonomy is the principle that people have the right to make their own decisions.
- Beneficence is the principle that we should act in ways that benefit others.
- Non-maleficence is the principle that we should avoid harming others.
- Justice is the principle that we should treat others fairly.
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What are some ethical dilemmas?
An ethical dilemma is a situation in which there is no clear right or wrong answer. Some common ethical dilemmas include:- The trolley problem is a thought experiment in which you must choose whether to sacrifice one person to save five people.
- The lying paradox is a situation in which you must decide whether to lie to save someone’s life.
- The prisoner’s dilemma is a situation in which two people must decide whether to cooperate or betray each other.
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What is the difference between ethics and morality?
Ethics is the study of morality, while morality is the set of beliefs about what is right and wrong. Ethics is a branch of philosophy, while morality is a part of culture. -
What is the role of ethics in business?
Ethics plays an important role in business because it helps to ensure that businesses act in a responsible and ethical manner. Businesses have a responsibility to their employees, customers, shareholders, and the community as a whole. By acting ethically, businesses can build trust and reputation, which can lead to long-term success. -
What are some examples of unethical business practices?
Some examples of unethical business practices include:- Bribery is the act of offering or giving Money or other benefits to someone in order to influence their actions.
- Corruption is the abuse of power for personal gain.
- Discrimination is the unfair treatment of people based on their race, religion, gender, or other personal characteristics.
- False advertising is the act of making false or misleading claims about a product or service.
- Price fixing is the act of agreeing with competitors to set prices at a certain level.
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What are some consequences of unethical business practices?
Unethical business practices can have a number of negative consequences, including:- Damage to reputation. When businesses engage in unethical practices, they can damage their reputation and lose the trust of their customers, employees, and shareholders.
- Legal problems. Businesses that engage in unethical practices can face legal problems, such as fines, lawsuits, and criminal charges.
- Financial losses. Unethical business practices can lead to financial losses, as customers may choose to do business with other companies that have a better reputation.
- Social unrest. Unethical business practices can lead to social unrest, as people become angry and frustrated with the way that businesses are operating.
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What can be done to prevent unethical business practices?
There are a number of things that can be done to prevent unethical business practices, including:- Creating a Code of ethics. Businesses should create a code of ethics that outlines the company’s values and expectations for ethical behavior.
- Providing training on ethics. Businesses should provide training to employees on the company’s code of ethics and how to identify and avoid unethical behavior.
- Enforcing the code of ethics. Businesses should have a system in place to enforce the code of ethics, such as disciplinary action for employees who violate the code.
- Creating a culture of ethics. Businesses should create a culture of ethics in which employees feel comfortable speaking up about unethical behavior.
Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic of Moral values (rights and Duties; Good and Virtues):
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What is the difference between a right and a duty?
(A) A right is something that you are entitled to, while a duty is something that you are obligated to do.
(B) A right is something that you can claim, while a duty is something that you must fulfill.
(C) A right is something that you have, while a duty is something that you owe to others.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not a basic human right?
(A) The right to life.
(B) The right to liberty.
(C) The Right to Property.
(D) The right to education. -
What is the difference between a good and a virtue?
(A) A good is something that is desirable, while a virtue is a character trait that is considered to be morally good.
(B) A good is something that is useful, while a virtue is something that is admirable.
(C) A good is something that is pleasant, while a virtue is something that is right.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not a virtue?
(A) Courage.
(B) Wisdom.
(C) Temperance.
(D) Honesty. -
What is the difference between a moral value and a social norm?
(A) A moral value is something that is considered to be right or wrong, while a social norm is something that is considered to be acceptable or unacceptable behavior.
(B) A moral value is something that is enforced by society, while a social norm is something that is enforced by the individual.
(C) A moral value is something that is based on religious beliefs, while a social norm is something that is based on cultural beliefs.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not a social norm?
(A) It is considered to be rude to talk with your mouth full.
(B) It is considered to be acceptable to wear a bathing suit at the beach.
(C) It is considered to be wrong to steal.
(D) It is considered to be polite to say “please” and “thank you.” -
What is the difference between a moral dilemma and a difficult choice?
(A) A moral dilemma is a situation in which there is no right or wrong answer, while a difficult choice is a situation in which there is a clear right or wrong answer.
(B) A moral dilemma is a situation in which you have to choose between two bad Options, while a difficult choice is a situation in which you have to choose between two good options.
(C) A moral dilemma is a situation in which you have to choose between your own interests and the interests of others, while a difficult choice is a situation in which you have to choose between two options that are both equally good or bad.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not a moral dilemma?
(A) You are walking down the street and you see a man drop his wallet. You can either pick it up and return it to him, or you can keep it for yourself.
(B) You are in a car accident and you are the only one who survives. You can either try to save the other driver, or you can drive away and leave them to die.
(C) You are offered a job that pays very well, but you know that the company is involved in illegal activities. You can either take the job, or you can turn it down.
(D) You are in a relationship with someone who is not good for you. You can either stay in the relationship, or you can break up with them. -
What is the difference between a moral principle and a moral rule?
(A) A moral principle is a general guideline for behavior, while a moral rule is a specific rule that must be followed.
(B) A moral principle is something that you believe in, while a moral rule is something that you are obligated to follow.
(C) A moral principle is something that is based on your conscience, while a moral rule is something that is based on the law.
(D) All of the above. -
Which of the following is not a moral principle?
(A) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
(B) Always tell the truth.
(C) Never steal.
(D) Always obey the law.