MORALITY – AN INTRODUCTION

• Morality has to do with the way we live our lives.

• Morality helps us to judge the difference between right and wrong.

• Once we know the difference between the two, we can do what is right and avoid what is wrong.

• We are human beings.

• We are able to think about our behaviour in order to decide what to say and what to do in any given situation.

• When we encounter moral situations, we can either act in a way that we know is right, or we can do the opposite and act in a way that we know to be wrong.

“A moral person knows the difference between

right and wrong and chooses to do what is

right.”

“An amoral person has no regard for any standards of right or wrong, and just does what he/she likes.”

“An immoral person knows the difference

between right and wrong and chooses to

do what is wrong.”

Moral Behaviour can depend on…

• The Consequences – what will happen if they do it/don’t do it.

• Their Emotions – how will they feel about their decision afterwards.

• The Situation – the background, what led up to it.• Laws and Rules – if it is against the law or a rule.• Authority – if someone orders them, or forces them

to do it.• Common Practice – whether or not everyone is

doing it.• Their Conscience – something that tells them its

right or wrong.

Questions to consider…

• Think of a character that you have read about in a book, seen on television, or in a film or video game, who fits the description:o A moral persono An immoral persono An amoral person

• Explain why you have placed these characters in these particular categories.

Making Moral Decisions

What are “VALUES”?• A value is something that we think is very

important and worthwhile.• Do any of these values apply to you?

o To be popular.o To have lots of money.o To have lots of friends.o To be respected.o To get good exam results.o To have a nice car.o To be good at sports.o To be happy and content.o To have a strong faith.

• Our values affect the way we think, what we say, and how we behave.

• Our values are not acquired by accident, we get our values from other people.

• Can you think of any examples of where these values come from?

Steps in Moral Decision-making…

Steps in Moral

Decision-

making…

1. Facts

2. Options

3. Advice

4. Values

5. Prayer

6. Decision

• The class organise a school fundraising event for the victims of a natural disaster. Everyone works hard, and it is a great success. You and your friends are the principal organisers. You count and bag the money, and a teacher drives you down to the bank. The cashier weighs the bags and tells you the total. There is a shortfall of €25, one bag is missing. You have your suspicions, although you didn’t actually see anyone take it. The gift cheque must be presented to the relief organisation by the end of the week. What do you do?

• A school trip is coming up. Everyone is looking forward to it. There is a visit to an exhibition and then a stop at a leisure centre on the way back. The teacher reads out the list of those who have paid so far. Your name is called out. You know you haven’t paid. The money is still in your pocket as you brought it in this morning. What do you do?

• You have seen a pair of football boots in a sale and you really want them. You have enough money saved, but you were planning to use some of that to go out at the weekend with your friends. If you buy the boots you’ll have nothing left. That evening at home you overhear your mum telling your brother/sister that she has left the money for the schoolbooks he//she needs in an envelope in their schoolbag and that they better not lose it. You and your brother/sister do not get on very well. You think that he/she is a real know-it-all and they always make fun of your friends. If you took the money, you would have enough to buy the football boots and go out with your friends at the weekend. What do you do?

Morality MattersFamilies

would not function if the

parents simply

ignored their children!

Society would totally collapse if people ignored

their duties towards others.Can you think of any examples??

You could not have close

friends if you lied

constantly and stole from

them!

Where does our Morality come from?

1. Home and Family• The home and family play an important part in

influencing our moral outlook.

• Our parents were the first people to teach us the difference between right and wrong.

• As children we learnt that it is good to share our toys, to always tell the truth and not hit other children.

2. Friends and Peers• As we grow older we begin to be influenced by

others outside the home.

• Going to school, making friends and mixing with other children our own age meant we encountered different types of values.

• Therefore it can be said that our friends and peers also play an important role in influencing our moral outlook.

3. Religion and Church

• People’s moral outlook is strongly influenced by the religion in which they have been brought up.

• Many young people go to schools with a religious ethos where they are educated in their faith.

• Therefore the values they have received at home are reinforced by the teachings and practices of their religion.

4. Society and the State

• The State plays an important role in deciding our moral outlook.

• The State passes the laws of the country.

• Society also plays an important role in influencing our moral outlook as it can decide what is accepted as good or bad.

• Usually when the majority of society behave in a certain way then that behaviour can become acceptable.

5. Emotions• We can be influenced by our emotions to behave

in certain ways.

• This can have a positive impact on us in situations where we are moved by sympathy or compassion to help somebody in need.

• However, emotions can also provide us with negative outcomes when we are driven by anger or hatred when responding to certain situations.

Points of View

• Moral issues are not always simply a matter of stating what is right and what is wrong.

• Morality is about human beings and their relationships.

• We must remember that many factors can influence the way people behave.