We should treat others with kindness, compassion, respect, etc. In other words, an ethical person practices the application of virtues, the traits of our character, in making everyday decisions. Virtues are the positive character traits that inform our ethical being. Integrity is the basis of virtue.
One definition of morality is: “the principles of good and evil that are accepted by an individual or a social group. As a general rule, we use morals to guide our actions. They help us make decisions based on what we think is “the right thing” in a given situation. Without them, we would have no rhyme or reason why we made the choices we made, or we would only make decisions that took into account our own needs.
Our decisions would be impulsive and we may not consider the consequences. Finally, sometimes people can use moral principles to justify bad behavior, such as stealing or hurting others in some way. For example, if you steal because you think it will help the poor, then your thoughts could be distorted and say that it's okay to steal. Consider how you interact with animals.
Some people may think that animals don't matter ethically. So before abusing a dog, biting the next steak, or raising livestock in an inhumane way, you should consider some ethical arguments. After all, animals feel pain and suffer just like humans. Perhaps this possibility of pain and suffering entitles them to rights and considerations that you are expected to respect from an ethical point of view.
People often view recycling or using certain types of household products as neutral lifestyle choices. However, ethics may actually require a particular type of interaction with the world around you. Cutting down a tree is innocent enough, but when you think of trees as parts of the ecosystems that keep humans alive, things become less clear. What are the basic things that humans are entitled to just because they are human? This question forms the basis of research on human rights.
Ethics has a lot to say about what those rights are, who has them and why. Many 21st century debates about torture, genocide, women's rights, freedom of expression, and well-being focus on human rights. Aside from that, the environment that parents present to their children is another thing that affects moral development. Children's environments influence their moral development in many different ways.
Adult and peer models, family and social values, religious values and beliefs, and parenting practices can play a role in shaping morality. Some moral behaviors are transmitted through verbal stories or structured lessons, such as religious teachings or teaching activities in the classroom. More commonly, however, moral behavior is learned through direct observation and imitation. Children closely observe the behavior of their caregivers, other adults, and older children.
If they see that their parents help strangers, they are more likely to help others as well. For example, you might believe that women should be carried away by their husbands because in your culture everyone has traditionally been in agreement with this idea for generations; however, if you were born in a different country where people don't think this way, you might not feel that it's morally right. A new study from the University of Chicago suggests that parents' sensitivity to both the feelings of others and to injustice can influence the early moral development of their children. For example, if you think that all women should dress conservatively because you think that dressing differently is immoral, then you're judging others based on your own set of standards.
In my opinion, everyone who lives today should inculcate good moral values in every individual. The above are some common examples, but moral principles are something personal, something that you decide for yourself. Philosophers can contemplate and study morals in depth, but all, even without thinking, act with morals in mind. Here are some examples of how moral principles don't always guide you to the best course of action.
Relative moral principles are based on opinions and circumstances that may change over time or from one person to another or in different situations. Moral principles were important in these societies because they believed that, in order to succeed, people needed a clear sense of what is right and what is wrong. For example, psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg studied moral development in children from different cultures. Most people have a set of moral values; in fact, the sense of morality is an aspect of human behavior that differentiates us from other species, but they can vary greatly from person to person.
However, blindly following moral principles without considering their origin or using their judgment depending on the situation can be problematic. .