The Basis of Morality

The Basis of Morality

The basis of morality influences the moral conduct of individuals. Psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, in his analysis of the stages of moral development, described morality as “the pattern of expected acts and omissions that matches the template set by the environment” (Newton, 2013). Subsequently, people become more moral based on the morals they may acquire from moral standards maintained from generation to generation and the morals they acquire from their families and societies from the effects of rewards they obtained as children from moral conduct.

The first basis for becoming more moral is acquiring morals from moral standards maintained from generation to generation. Thus, considering the evolution theory, survival is dependent on behaviors. The organisms that survive have standards that coming generations use and build on to survive (Newton, 2013). Correspondingly, individuals find already existing moral standards in their societies; therefore, these moral standards create a basis for their morals, making them more moral. As they keep growing and aging, they build on the fundamental moral standards they initially found in place, making them more moral.

The second basis for becoming more moral is the effect of rewards given to individuals as children for maintaining moral behavior (Newton, 2013). The continual issuing of rewards to children by their families and societies is engraved in their minds, and therefore, they are aware of the significance of moral conduct. Accordingly, Aristotle explains moral learning by dividing human associations into three stages, including the household, the village, and the State or the Polis (Newton, 2013). This acquisition of morals occurs through learning, whereby children are rewarded for good moral behavior. Consequently, the children grow up with the ideology of the significance of moral behavior since they were always rewarded as children. Consequently, the impacts of the rewards influence people’s moral conduct, making them more moral.

In conclusion, the basis for morality is dependent on preexisting moral standards passed from generation to generation and the awarding of rewards to children who behave morally by their families or societies. These bases for morality make individuals more moral.

References

Newton, L. (2013). Ethical Decision Making: Introduction to Cases and Concepts in Ethics.

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The Basis of Morality

How can people become more moral? Use the information found in Chapter 4 to answer this question. The goal of this discussion is to discuss the basis of morality.

Please note that chapter 4 is from pages 45-61. Thank you