Signs of morality, its functions, principles of formation

What are the characteristic features of morality? The notion of morality is a whole system of norms and rules governing human behavior, moral interaction between individuals takes place, according to the generally accepted system of values. Thanks to moral views, a person has the opportunity to distinguish between good and evil.

How is morality formed?

On what grounds do we learn morality? Morality affects all spheres of public life. The concept of morality provides an opportunity to reconcile personal interests with social ones. Signs of morality, a person is aware of in the course of the formation of the personality in the conditions of society. First, the individual learns the norms of morality in the course of education, trying to do the right things, imitating older, more experienced people. Then, as we grow older, we understand our own actions in accordance with generally accepted judgments established in society.

Signs of morality

Morality as a way of active participation in social life is distinguished by characteristic features. There are three signs of morality:

1. Universality - the requirements of the norms adopted in the social environment are one for all its members.
2. Voluntary character - actions that correspond to moral behavior, are performed by individuals not compulsorily. In this case, education, personal convictions, and conscience come into play. The voluntary performance of moral actions is influenced by public opinion.
3. An all-encompassing character - morality affects all human activities. Moral actions are naturally manifested in communication, creativity, social life, science, politics.

Moral functions

On what grounds do we learn morality? Morality is primarily a way of flexibly changing the behavior of individuals in the course of social life. This is its regulatory function. As society evolved, many other solutions emerged to stimulate "right" actions of people: administrative punishments, legal norms. However, morality to this day remains a unique phenomenon. Its manifestation does not require reinforcement from punitive agencies or special institutions. Regulation of morality is due to the activation of the neural connections that have formed in the process of human upbringing and are consistent with the principles of behavior in society.

What is the hallmark of morality? Another of its functions is to assess the world in terms of humane behavior. To some extent, morality promotes the development and creation of communities of individuals. The manifestation of the evaluation function forces a person to analyze how the world changes, depending on the performance of certain actions.

Another important function of morality is educational. By concentrating in itself the positive experience of previous eras, morality makes it the property of the next generations. Thanks to this, the individual gets the opportunity to gain a correct social orientation, which does not contradict the public interests.

What science studies morality?

Signs of morality, its functions, development in society are studied by a specific branch of philosophy - ethics. This science explores, on the basis of what occurred the origin of morality in the social environment, as it developed in a historical context.

The main problems of ethics are the following:

• The definition of the meaning of life, the purpose of humanity and the role of each individual individual;
• The relative character of good and evil, their criteria in different historical epochs;
• Search for ways to realize justice in the social life of people.

In general, ethics should be understood as a set of moral principles that are generally accepted in a particular society or individual social groups. For example, the notion of professional ethics is singled out , which includes responsibility for a particular activity.

How was morality formed in the historical context?

During the existence of a civilized society, the signs of morality remained unchanged. This is the desire to commit moral acts and abstaining from evil, caring for close people, striving to achieve the public good. There is a wide range of universal norms of behavior that act independently of the position of the individual in society, religious and national identity. However, some forms of morality have undergone evolution throughout the historical development of society:

1. Taboo - rigid restrictions that were imposed in certain social communities on the performance of specific actions. Violation of prohibitions was connected in the minds of individuals with the threat of personal security from other people or supernatural forces. This phenomenon in certain cultures is still valid today.
2. Customs are repetitive norms of behavior that are supported by the influence of public opinion. The need to fulfill numerous customs is particularly great in traditional cultures, but gradually goes into non-existence in highly developed countries.
3. Moral rules are ideals that govern the behavior of an individual. In contrast to customs and taboos, people require a conscious choice.

Finally

So we found out what is the hallmark of morality, answered other questions. Finally, it should be noted that in a civilized society, morality is inextricably linked with the notion of law. Both systems impose on the individual the need to meet certain standards of behavior, orient the person to observe order.