What is the standard for your moral code?

Question

How do you determine right from wrong?

Answer 1

Do unto others.....

Answer 2

What a question! I guess for me it comes down to a gut feeling. I think through what I think is the right decision based on many things (school/work regulations, parents rules, religious beliefs, role-models actions). After considering these things I add in my own gut feeling and make a decision.

So, I guess I determine right from wrong based on the precedents set by those that have affected my life the most with a little of my own feelings mixed in.

I also keep a quarter in my pocket for those really tough questions.

Answer 3

The core of morality is respect: respect for ourselves, respect for other people, respect for all forms of life and the envirorment that sustains them. I am in stage five of moral reasoning process sadly most adults in todays society will never make it to this stage but let me show you the five steps anyway.

stage 0: egocentric reasoning (preschool years around age 4) whats right: I should get my own way.
reason to be good: I get rewards and avoid punishments

stage 1: unquestioning obedience (around kingdergarten)
whats right: I should do what I'm told
reason to be good: to stay out of trouble

stage 2: whats in it for me fairness ( early elementary grades)
whats right: I should look out for myself but be fair to those who are fair to me.
reason to be good: self interest: whats in it for me.

stage 3: interpersonal conformity ( middle to upper elementary grades and early to mid teens)
whats right: I should be a nice person and live up to the expectations of people I know and care about.
reason to be good: so others will think well of me (social approval) and I can think well of myself (self esteem).

stage 4: responsibility to the system (high school years or late teens)
whats right: I should fufill my responsibilites to the social or value system I feel part of.
reason to be good: To keep the system from falling apart and to maintain self respect as somebody who meets my obligations.

stage 5: principled conscience (young adulthood)
whats right: I should show the greatest possible respect for the rights and dignity of every individual person and should support a system that protects human rights.
reason to be good: the obligation of conscience to act in accordance with the principle of respect for all human beings.

many adults are stuck in stage 3 which has an obvious weakness it confuses whats right with what other people want you to do. Stage 4 although better also has a weakness when stage 4 sees a conflict between the system and individual rights, it comes down on the side of the system. At present reasearch shows, only a minority of adults attain stage 5.

if you have any questions about any of this you can email me at [e-mail]

Answer 4

The Simpsons.

Answer 5

The most concise, common-sense code I've ever heard actually historically comes from Paganism / Wicca (though I do not follow any religion)


An it do no harm, do what thou wilt.


In other words, if it causes no harm (to people, to property, etc), then people should be able to do what they want to with no interference from others.

Answer 6

William Shakespeare had very practical advice to give on this topic : 'To thine own self be true !'
That is what I do : Follow only what MY conscience says, about right or wrong !

Answer 7

Fear God,Love God, and others.
It's called the Holy Bible.
Prov 1:7

Answer 8

My granddad said you had to be able to look your self in the eye in the mirror .

Answer 9

The Bible, although many times a day, I fall short of the glory of God. "I get knocked down... But, I get up again... You're never gonna keep me down...!"

Answer 10

Be nice.
If it would make someone feel bad then it's probably wrong.

Answer 11

you know what is right. if it hurts other people it is wrong, if you act out of selfishness it is wrong. Should be ingrained into your heart.