Who decides what is morally wrong?

Question

What is moral?In my humble opinion,the notion is, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, it’s fine

Answer 1

some things are right or wrong depending on the angle from which we look at it...while others are just wrong no matter what the angle...

Answer 2

You, the individual does. Everyone has their own set of moral codes. I agree with you though, I think as long as your not hurting anyone or yourself, it's okay. And as long as your not lying to yourself either to cover up the hurt to get instant gratification. Which people do a lot try hide their guilt.

Also, anyone who think it's society that ultimately sets moral codes are individuals who follow what ever their told without question. Society is wrong 50% of the time when dealing with moral issues. Like for example, women were once treated less than men. Blacks were once treated as animals. It was moral to treat these people this way. It was the individuals who went against society's "morals" who were right and prevailed.

So, no one is kidding themselves when thinking they decided their morals if they're thinking for themselves. And not everyone is controled by society. If that were true, blcks would still be slaves, women would still be sitting at home cooking. Those who are controlled, are the one who kid themselves.

Society presents basic ideas that can be morals if you wish to follow them. But it does not force you to follow it if you are strong enough to do things the way you KNOW is right. Not based on what someone else in societyclaims is right.

Answer 3

At last! An intelligent question! Your definition is a very good one, I think. Morals are all about protecting people from each other, and law is said to be based on morality. I think this is what the lawyers call "jurisprudence". I did an essay on this a while ago and found it very interesting, and I raised the same question - who decides what's moral and what isn't? How does morality change? Is it linked to public opinion and can the general public opinion be held to be sufficient to change the law on something?

I used the example of fox-hunting - years ago, most people thought fox-hunting was fine and regarded people who disagreed with it as "cranks". These days, most people in the UK think fox-hunting is barbaric and that people who agree with it need professional help. The change in majority public opinion led to the change in the law. The same thing happened with slavery almost 200 years ago. But the majority of people in the UK are in favour of the death penalty and of abortion. Although personally I am happy with the ban on fox-hunting, could it be said that changing the law to suit the majority view of morality is "mob rule"?

Answer 4

Morality is defined by the norms and folkways of society but also an individual's own concepts based on experience from these sources. So hence, you learn what society accepts growing up, but overall you derive from it what is necessary and what isn't. The fact of the matter is that it's influence is primary. For instance, many consider suicide to be unacceptable, that is, immoral to accept in society. However, the Romans thought it was a perfectly acceptable means of escaping hopeless situations amongst other reasons.

Answer 5

When someone cuts you off in traffic, you react as if he did something wrong. The one who cuts you off thinks, no harm no foul and what is your problem? You think the guy should be punished for his sin. So with the mouth you say there is no sin, but viscerally you affirm it every day. In fact, the only time we throw out right and wrong is when we want to screw. Someone tries to murder us and suddenly right and wrong is very clear. Someone tries to rob us and suddenly right and wrong is very clear. It is always very clear when relative morality rubs us the wrong way. Down deep the right and wrong code is hardwired into our spirits. If that were not true, then why wouldn't we be okay with having our whole life displayed on the screen for every Tom, Dick and Martha to watch our shameful deeds? The mouth lies, but we know there really is a right and wrong. We choose to seek pleasure, and right and wrong is a bit inconvenient.

Answer 6

Morality is entirely personal. Only you can decide what is or is not moral. Anyone who tries to tell you something is "immoral" is probably just offended... or titillated (most likely the latter). It's easier to push your ideas of morality on others than it is to be truly moral yourself; hence the recent Catholic priest scandals, and the scandals involving fundamentalist preachers in years past. Your best bet: Make up your own mind. As you said, don't hurt anyone else.

Answer 7

Pretty sure each individual decides whats morally wrong or right according to their own beliefs, just like you just did by saying whatever, as long as your not hurting anyone.

Answer 8

survival of the fittest potential the single maximum probable to stay long adequate to procreate we don't ought to flow around killing people You learn your morals from the society you reside in and additionally a organic and organic imperitive to no longer injury others - which cropped up by using evolution. have you ever never puzzled why morals have been relative? Slavery became suitable interior the bible you comprehend What concerns me is which you needless to say *choose* to kill/rape/thieve and it incredibly is purely your worry of punishment in hell that combating you. everyday people don't have those urges

Answer 9

usually it's not as black and white as that....because what you think doesn't hurt people might end up hurting them either way..
but I think the society you live in ultimately decides what' s right or wrong.
We might kid ourselves thinking it's us the individual but most of our actions are determined by our surroundings, as sad as it sounds.

Answer 10

Morality can be defined as being able to be good in character or conduct; virtuous according to civilized standards of right or wrong; each person has their own ‘moral standards’ which they consider to be right. The Catholic Church also has a version of what being moral entails. The church believes that every person must recognize; freedom of responsibility, conscience and sin, God’s love for us, human’s made in God’s image, need for one another and human rights and human dignity.

Each of the above goes hand and hand, freedom and responsibility along with conscience and sin refers to humanity’s liberty to make it’s own choices, whether they are moral or immoral, we must be able to take responsibility for our actions. Ones conscience enables them to make moral decisions based on what they know is right and wrong as well as to what the scriptures have told us about sins.

Love of God and man being made in God’s image relates to Jesus sacrificing his own son and sending him to Earth, setting an example of how we should live our lives. Through Jesus, God showed us how much he loves every one because we were all made in the image of God, therefore we should all respect one another, because by disrespecting one another we are in fact disrespecting God.

Our need for one another, being it between a man and a woman or just in times of need such as support of third world countries, is very important to God’s central message. God wants us to help one another and to compliment one another with our personal attributes. The sacrament of marriage, the union between a man and a woman is a perfect example of what God wants for us, together a man and a woman function creating a productive atmosphere because the two accept one another’s differences. In 1979, Pope John Paul II issued what the church today believes is moral:

The right to life, liberty and security of person: the right to food, clothing, housing, sufficient health care, rest and leisure the right to freedom of expression, education and culture; the right to freedom of expression of thought, conscience and religion…the right to property and work, to adequate working conditions and a just wage…the right to participate in the free choice of the political system of the people to which one belongs (Donovan 14).

With this, I fully agree, each person, no matter where they live or no matter what age they may be should be recognized as a human being and should be given certain rights such as these and more. Morality to me is ones conscience effort to make sure they are doing the right thing for themselves and for everyone around them.