Do we essentially need "morals"?

Question

Morals as code of values, apparently learned, but from a meta-level existing from birth...why do we need morals? Are morals just an appearance of modern society and human beings? Why this mystic code exists in us? The main question: What is the purpose of morals?

Answer 1

I look at this question and have to wonder, "Is this for real?!?"
Could anyone REALLY be in doubt about such an essential human value, or is it just a cutesy, smartsey attention-getting device? It is as if someone had just asked, "Do we essentially need food, water and oxygen?"
Yet, when I see what is going on in other parts of the world - and, yes, sometimes right here, too - it all becomes a little less incredible.

Some of the answers posted ahead of mine do a sufficiently thorough job of adressing the most obvious point - the protection of the social members within any society from the destructive behavior and harmful actions of its anti-social denizens - so I will touch on one of the lesser-known aspects of this question.

Moral guidelines, when followed, protect us from OURSELVES, as well.
If you are a sociopathic personality, then both the question itself, and all the answers in the world will be meaningless to you, but if you are not, then think for a moment about the emotion of "guilt". Of all the negative emotions there are - grief, sorrow, anger, fear, etc. - guilt is the most painful and hardest to live with.
Guilt does not always come from the breaking of a written law or rule. (Laws and rules are written by fallible human beings and are just as subject to error as anything else we do.) Rather, it comes from knowing deep down in our soul that we have done something that we, ourselves, consider to be wrong, and/or we know that we have needlessly hurt another.
Guilt is a corrosive acid that eats away at our self-esteem and our personal quality of life. (Indeed, it would not surprise me in the least if I were to learn that guilt is responsible for more suicides than any other negative emotion.)
And that's where MORALS come into the picture. They give us a set of guidelines to follow which help us avoid the pain of guilt and of knowing we have done wrong, to others. If we live by a solid, but compassionate set of morals, we will experience far less of this terrible, self-destructive emotion.
(I should probably have put the word "compassionate" in capitol letters, because an overly harsh, punitive system of morals can be as harmful and counter-productive as a complete lack of morality.)
Failing to establish a fair, just and workable system of morals leads to low self-esteem which, in turn, leads to more negative behavior, which leads to more guilt and self-loathing, on and on - ad infinitum. It is a psycho/emotional whirlpool that drags its victims lower and lower.
When we feel that our choices and actions are the right ones, we are happy and at peace with ourselves, but when we know that we are on the wrong path, we know we are headed for disaster and our lives fall apart - bit by bit.

Many times in our lives, we are faced with the choices of doing what feels "good" vs doing what feels "right". Sometimes, in the most fortunate of circumstances, they will be the same thing, but when they are NOT, when they conflict, if we turn our backs on what feels RIGHT and go with what feels GOOD, that good feeling collapses sooner or later and leaves us feeling very BAD!

THAT is the purpose of morals - not JUST to keep us from hurting others, but to keep us from hurting OURSELVES, as well!

Added Note:
For those who believe in the spiritual concept of "karma", a solid set of moral values, well adhered-to, helps keep us out of far more than just legal trouble.

Answer 2

Many people need religion to guide them morally. I believe that morals are essential in any society. Morals provide a set of standards that prevent us from hurting each other. Without them we would do whatever we want and not be concerned about who was hurt by our behavior. I don't believe that they exist from birth though. They are taught. Have you ever met a two year old? They have no morals whatsoever! Without morals, we would all behave like two year olds.

Answer 3

yes, morals protect others. without morals anarchy will erupt. morals are rules of conduct usually only associated with religeon, but morals encompass from murder to modest apparell. a lot of sexual advances can be discouraged by modest apparell. many young ladies don't realize that when they dress in almost nothing, the same thoughts that run through their "crush's" mind run through the mind of the dirty old man eyeing them from across the street.

Answer 4

the purpose of morals can be many, but i see morals as most likly a instilled outside control unless the person is making the descision on free will. free will is the way to go

Answer 5

I think we all need morals to guide us through our lives. Morals are based on fundamental principles of right conduct. Its about respect,, manners, and behaviours we take with us through our lives. We can guide others with our morals and values that were taught to us. I believe they make our lives more fulfilling.

Answer 6

we need morals to keep society... people without morals are called sociopaths..
Morals are what tell us not to kill, rape, abandon and steal from eachother. WIthout them a society woudl never funciton and we would be like animals

Answer 7

Yes We need MORALS

Answer 8

Yes, read Lord of the Flies.

Answer 9

i dont think you "NEED" them, but they're a good thing to have.