Probably every person who is not even familiar with philosophy has ever asked himself the question: “What is moral and moral duty? How should I behave in society in order to have the right to be called a Man? ” After reading this article, you will learn why moral duty is an ambiguous concept, and how various philosophers have interpreted it. A precise definition does not yet exist.
Man's moral duty is a contested concept
One of the most difficult aspects of ethical thinking is the ability to critically analyze one’s own beliefs and make mistakes. When we take on faith the reasonableness of the reasons for which we act, we do not question many things. Although sometimes they just need to at least doubt or even confront them.
Our moral ideas are heavily influenced by parents, friends, spouses, or culture. Therefore, confidence in their correctness is enhanced even more. The moral standards of our actions are determined by the totality of many influences. We feel obligated to follow established beliefs and rarely ask ourselves: “Are they based on truth or only on habit?”
What does the law say?
The law is a kind of cultural compass. Remember the code of laws of Hammurabi. On a plate more than two meters high, certain rules are written. At the top of this stone monument was depicted King Hammurabi, respectfully standing in front of the seated Shamash, the goddess of justice. A shamash from heaven dictated the laws to his earthly representative. Of course, these moral standards did not arise out of nowhere. They were the result of many centuries of social development of civilization and ethical thinking. In the same way, the laws of the Russian Federation reflect the long years of development of our state and are constantly being improved.
Socrates moral duty
According to Socrates, moral duty is the ability to be a good citizen. But this phrase needs to be understood and deeper. According to Socrates, the concept of "being a good citizen" requires additional philosophical consideration, while a person must achieve his happiness through virtue. In Athens, this ancient philosopher was very popular.
Plato's Ideas
According to Plato (427-347 BC), the devil manifests itself in ignorance, and learning is a virtue. The main idea of ​​this philosopher is that the highest good lies in the maximum approximation to the Absolute, which, in turn, cannot be achieved in our lives. Virtue is a person’s ability to control his behavior in a manner consistent with common sense. This is the fulfillment of moral duty. Acting in accordance with these rules, a person approaches the Absolute (or God, in the language of theology).
Thoughts of Aristotle. Ethics
Moral duty and its definition worried Aristotle's thoughts. The philosopher devoted many of his works to this issue.
Aristotle (384-322 BC) further agitated Western society. With a special insight, characteristic of him, he solved many problems of ethics in his works and political essays. Unlike Plato, who began his observations with ideas, Aristotle preferred experimental analysis and identification of the causes.
He argued that all of humanity strives for happiness as the ultimate object of its activity, and all other virtues serve only as a means of achieving it. The philosopher adhered to the concept of eudaimonism. According to this teaching, it is not necessary to try to satisfy all your desires, even if those are pleasing. Only those aspirations that bring prosperity can be considered virtues, therefore moral duty is the choice of the right desires. Aristotle's views on the concept of morality made a huge contribution to the development of ethics.
Traveling through different cultures and time periods, we encounter an endless variety of different from each other, often conflicting concepts of moral standards.
Kant's philosophy
Another very interesting definition of the term considered in the article can be found in Kant, an adherent of deontology. Kant defines virtue as the willpower of a human being aimed at fulfilling a duty. According to this thinker, the nature of true morality consists in the fulfillment of duties, even if they do not bring pleasure to a person, and not because of fear of punishment because of their non-fulfillment. A man of high morality fulfills his moral duty without thinking about the consequences and benefits. According to Kant, one who acts to achieve some of his own benefits cannot be considered highly spiritual, like a person who does good deeds simply out of habit, thoughtlessly. Only an individual who lives according to the principles of morality, since he truly considers it his duty, can be called a highly moral person. Kant's philosophy is a system of moral values ​​elevated to the absolute. The thinker considered some actions unacceptable, regardless of the situation.
As you can see, there are a lot of opinions and interpretations. For some, a moral duty is to follow the norms and customs of the society in which they were born. Others with many value systems do not fully agree. To find the answer to the question: “What does moral duty mean to me?”, One must not forget both the spiritual heritage of the ancestors and the need to think critically. The concept that we dwell on in detail in the article is very multifaceted and often contradictory, like every person.