What makes an action moral?

Question

In your opinion, what makes an action moral?

Answer 1

Immoral action: hurts someone (even if it's yourself).
Moral action: helps someone, or at least doesn't hurt anyone.

Simple as that.

One exception: It is not immoral to hurt someone when it's in self-defense if this will in turn prevent others from being hurt (ie, when it's for the greater good.) It is moral to hurt a guilty person to help an innocent one.

Just my opinion.

Answer 2

An action is moral if it improves the quality of life, not only for one's self, but for others as well. If an action negatively impacts one's self or others, it can be considered immoral.

Answer 3

It is moral if the consequences and the means of fulfilling that action are good or in the best interests of everyone.

Answer 4

I think a "moral" act conforms to the thoughts of the individual conscience, whose probable similarity is determined by cultural identities. In essence, an action, determined by tangible aspects, has a morality existent in an intangible realm. Therefore, a "moral" act is based solely on individual personalities.

Answer 5

Morality (from Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behaviour") refers to the concept of human ethics which pertains to matters of right and wrong — also referred to as "good and evil" — used within three contexts: individual conscience; systems of principles and judgments — sometimes called moral values —shared within a cultural, religious, secular or philosophical community; and codes of behavior or conduct morality.

Personal morality defines and distinguishes among right and wrong intentions, motivations or actions, as these have been learned, engendered, or otherwise developed within each individual.

Answer 6

An action is moral if it a) does no harm, b) unless the harm protects someone who cannot defend him/herself and c) is not prompted by the wants or needs of the person acting.

The latter requirement is the most often violated, since we love to force others to do what is good for them or us, even if it kills them.