The social system of the 21st century presupposes the presence of a set of certain legal and moral laws that create an unbreakable hierarchical system of moral and state standards. Caring parents from childhood explain to their child the difference between good and bad deeds, instilling in their offspring the concepts of “Good” and “Evil.” It is not surprising that in the life of every person, murder or gluttony is associated with negative phenomena, while nobility and mercy belong to the category of positive personal qualities. Some moral principles are already present at the subconscious level, other postulates are acquired over time, forming the image of the individual. However, few people think about the importance of instilling such values ​​in themselves, neglecting their significance. It is impossible to coexist harmoniously with the outside world, guided solely by biological instincts - this is a “dangerous” path, invariably leading to the destruction of personal appearance.

Maximum happiness.

This facet of human morality was examined and proven by the utilitarians John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham, who studied ethics at the US State Institute. This statement is based on the following formulation: an individual’s behavior should lead to an improvement in the lives of those around him. In other words, if you adhere to social standards, then a favorable environment for the coexistence of each individual is created in society.

Justice.

A similar principle was proposed by the American scientist John Rawls, who argued for the need to equate social laws with internal moral factors. A person occupying the bottom rung in a hierarchical structure should have equal spiritual rights with a person at the top of the ladder - this is the fundamental aspect of the statement of the US philosopher.

It is important to think about your own personal qualities in order to engage in self-improvement in advance. If you neglect such a phenomenon, then over time it will develop into betrayal. A variety of changes that cannot be avoided will form an immoral image that is rejected by others. The main thing is to take a responsible approach to identifying life principles and determining the vector of your worldview, objectively assessing your behavioral characteristics.

Commandments of the Old Testament and modern society

When “understanding” the question of the meaning of moral principles and ethics in human life, in the process of research you will definitely turn to the Bible to familiarize yourself with the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament. Cultivating morality in oneself invariably echoes statements from the church book:

the events taking place are marked by fate, suggesting the development of moral and moral principles in a person (everything is the will of God);
do not elevate the people around you by idealizing idols;
do not mention the name of the Lord in everyday situations, complaining about unfavorable circumstances;
respect the relatives who gave you life;
Dedicate six days to work, and the seventh day to spiritual rest;
do not kill living organisms;
do not commit adultery by cheating on your spouse;
You shouldn’t take other people’s things and become a thief;
avoid lies in order to remain honest with yourself and the people around you;
Don't envy strangers about whom you only know public facts.

Some of the above commandments do not meet the social standards of the 21st century, but most of the statements have remained relevant for many centuries. Today, it is advisable to add the following statements to such axioms, reflecting the features of living in developed megacities:

don’t be lazy and be energetic to keep up with the fast pace of industrial centers;
achieve personal success and improve yourself without stopping at achieved goals;
When creating a family, think in advance about the feasibility of the union in order to avoid divorce;
limit yourself to sexual intercourse, remembering to use protection - eliminate the risk of unwanted pregnancy, which results in abortion.
do not neglect the interests of strangers, going over your head for personal gain.

"No man is like an island"
(John Donne)

Society consists of many individuals who are similar in many ways, but also extremely different in their aspirations and worldviews, experiences and perceptions of reality. Morality is what unites us, these are those special rules adopted in the human community and defining a certain general view of categories such as good and evil, right and wrong, good and bad.

Morality is defined as norms of behavior in society that have been formed over many centuries and serve for the correct development of a person in it. The term itself comes from the Latin word mores, which means rules accepted in society.

Moral Traits

Morality, which is largely decisive for the regulation of life in society, has several main features. Thus, its fundamental requirements for all members of society are the same, regardless of position. They operate even in situations that are outside the area of ​​responsibility of legal principles and extend to such areas of life as creativity, science, and production.

Norms of public morality, in other words, traditions, are significant in communication between specific individuals and groups of people, allowing them to “speak the same language.” Legal principles are imposed on society, and failure to comply with them carries with it consequences of varying severity. Traditions and moral norms are voluntary; every member of society agrees to them without coercion.

Types of moral standards

Over the centuries, they have taken different forms. Thus, in primitive society, such a principle as taboo was indisputable. People who were proclaimed as transmitting the will of the gods were strictly regulated as prohibited actions that could threaten the entire society. Violation of them was inevitably followed by the most severe punishment: death or exile, which in most cases was the same thing. The taboo is still preserved in many. Here, as a moral norm, examples are the following: you cannot be on the territory of the temple if the person does not belong to the clergy caste; You cannot have children from your relatives.

Custom

A moral norm is not only generally accepted, as a result of its derivation by some elite, it can also be a custom. It represents a repetitive pattern of actions that is especially important in order to maintain a certain position in society. In Muslim countries, for example, traditions are more revered than other moral norms. Customs based on religious beliefs in Central Asia can cost lives. For us, who are more accustomed to European culture, legislation is an analogue. It has the same impact on us as traditional moral standards have on Muslims. Examples in this case: a ban on drinking alcohol, closed clothing for women. For our Slavic-European society, the customs are to bake pancakes on Maslenitsa and celebrate the New Year with a Christmas tree.

Among moral norms, tradition is also distinguished - a procedure and pattern of behavior that is preserved for a long time, passed on from generation to generation. A kind of traditional moral standards, examples. In this case, these include: celebrating the New Year with a tree and gifts, perhaps in a certain place, or going to the bathhouse on New Year’s Eve.

Moral rules

There are also moral rules - those norms of society that a person consciously determines for himself and adheres to this choice, deciding what is acceptable for him. For such a moral norm, examples in this case: give up your seat to pregnant and elderly people, shake hands with a woman when exiting a vehicle, open the door for a woman.

Functions of morality

One of the functions is evaluation. Morality considers events and actions that take place in society from the point of view of their usefulness or danger for further development, and then makes its verdict. Various kinds of reality are assessed in terms of good and evil, creating an environment in which each of its manifestations can be assessed both positively and negatively. With the help of this function, a person can understand his place in the world and form his position.

The regulatory function is no less important. Morality actively influences people's consciousness, often acting better than legal restrictions. From childhood, with the help of education, each member of society develops certain views on what can be done and what cannot be done, and this helps him adjust his behavior in such a way that it is useful for himself and for development in general. Moral norms regulate both the internal views of a person, and therefore his behavior, and the interaction between groups of people, allowing the preservation of the established way of life, stability and culture.

The educational function of morality is expressed in the fact that under its influence a person begins to focus not only on his own needs, but also on the needs of the people around him and society as a whole. The individual develops an awareness of the value of the needs of other participants in society, which, in turn, leads to mutual respect. A person enjoys his freedom as long as it does not violate the freedom of other people. similar in different individuals, help them better understand each other and act harmoniously together, positively influencing the development of each of them.

Morality as a result of evolution

The basic moral principles of any time in the existence of society include the need to do good deeds and not cause harm to people, regardless of what position they occupy, what nationality they belong to, or followers of what religion they are.

The principles of norms and morality become necessary as soon as individuals interact. It was the emergence of society that created them. Biologists who focus on the study of evolution say that in nature there is also a principle of mutual utility, which in human society is realized through morality. All animals that live in society are forced to moderate their egoistic needs in order to be more adapted to later life.

Many scientists consider morality as a result of the social evolution of human society, being the same natural manifestation. They say that many of the principles of norms and morality, which are fundamental, were formed through natural selection, when only those individuals survived who could interact correctly with others. Thus, as an example, they cite parental love, which expresses the need to protect the offspring from all external dangers in order to ensure the survival of the species, and the ban on incest, which protects the population from degeneration through the mixing of too similar genes, which leads to the appearance of weak children.

Humanism as a basic principle of morality

Humanism is the fundamental principle of public morality. It refers to the belief that every person has the right to happiness and countless opportunities to realize this right, and that at the core of every society should be the idea that everyone in it has value and is worthy of protection and freedom .

The main one can be expressed in the well-known rule: “treat others the way you want to be treated.” Another person in this principle is seen as deserving the same benefits as any particular person.

Humanism assumes that society must guarantee basic human rights, such as the inviolability of home and correspondence, freedom of religion and choice of place of residence, and the prohibition of forced labor. Society must make efforts to support people who, for one reason or another, are limited in their abilities. The ability to accept such people distinguishes human society, which does not live according to the laws of nature with natural selection, dooming those who are not strong enough to die. Humanism also creates opportunities for human happiness, the pinnacle of which is the realization of one’s knowledge and skills.

Humanism as a source of universal moral norms

Humanism in our time draws society's attention to such universal problems as the proliferation of nuclear weapons, environmental threats, the need for development and a reduction in production levels. He says that the containment of needs and the involvement of everyone in solving problems that face the entire society can only happen through an increase in the level of consciousness and the development of spirituality. It forms universal human moral norms.

Mercy as a basic principle of morality

Mercy is understood as a person’s readiness to help people in need, to sympathize with them, perceiving their suffering as his own and wanting to alleviate their suffering. Many religions pay close attention to this moral principle, especially Buddhism and Christianity. In order for a person to be merciful, it is necessary that he does not divide people into “us” and “strangers”, so that he sees “his own” in everyone.

Currently, great emphasis is placed on the fact that a person should actively help those who need mercy, and it is important that he not only provides practical assistance, but is also ready to support morally.

Equality as a basic principle of morality

From a moral point of view, equality calls for a person's actions to be evaluated regardless of his social status and wealth, and from a general point of view, for the approach to human actions to be universal. This kind of state of affairs can only exist in a well-developed society that has reached a certain level in economic and cultural development.

Altruism as a basic principle of morality

This moral principle can be expressed in the phrase “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Altruism assumes that a person is able to do something good for another person for free, that this will not be a favor that must be returned, but a selfless impulse. This moral principle is very important in modern society, when life in big cities alienates people from each other and creates the feeling that caring for one’s neighbor without intentionality is impossible.

Morality and law

Law and morality are in close contact, since together they form the rules in society, but they have a number of significant differences. Correlation and morality allows us to identify their differences.

The rules of law are documented and developed by the state as mandatory rules, non-compliance with which inevitably entails liability. The categories of legal and illegal are used as an assessment, and this assessment is objective, built on regulatory documents, such as the constitution and various codes.

Moral norms and principles are more flexible and can be perceived differently by different people, and can also depend on the situation. They exist in society in the form of rules that are passed on from one person to another and are not documented anywhere. Moral norms are quite subjective, assessment is expressed through the concepts of “right” and “wrong”; their failure to comply in some cases cannot lead to more serious consequences than public censure or simply disapproval. For a person, violating moral principles can lead to pangs of conscience.

The relationship between the norms of law and morality can be seen in many cases. Thus, the moral principles “thou shalt not kill”, “thou shalt not steal” correspond to the laws prescribed in the Criminal Code, which state that an attempt on human life and property leads to criminal liability and imprisonment. A conflict of principles is also possible when a legal violation - for example, euthanasia, which is prohibited in our country, which is considered as murder of a person - can be justified by moral convictions - the person himself does not want to live, there is no hope for recovery, the disease causes him unbearable pain.

Thus, the difference between legal and moral norms is expressed only in legislation.

Conclusion

Moral norms were born in society in the process of evolution; their appearance is not accidental. They were needed before to support society and protect it from internal conflicts, and they still perform this and other functions, developing and progressing along with society. Moral standards have been and will remain an integral element of a civilized society.

Plays a special role in regulating the life of society and the behavior of its members. morality.

Morality(from lat. moralitas - relating to disposition, character, mentality, habits; and lat. mores - mores, customs, fashion, behavior) - a form of social consciousness that reflects the views and ideas, norms and assessments of the behavior of individuals, social groups and society as a whole.

Morality regulates human behavior in all spheres of public life, supporting and sanctioning certain social foundations, the structure of life, and communication between people. However, facilitating the regulation of people's social behavior is not the only function of morality. Morality is, first of all, a life guideline that expresses a person’s desire for self-improvement. Its main function is to affirm the human in man.

Marxist social science defends the thesis that morality is a phenomenon, firstly, derived from economics and, secondly, a service one, serving the base. This idea is confirmed by references to the historical variability of moral norms, to the class-class essence of many moral codes. Indeed, moral beliefs and assessments in different eras among different peoples, classes, and generations can differ greatly. Morality always expresses the spirit of the era and is closely related to living conditions. However, when analyzing morality and assessing its specific forms, it is equally erroneous to ignore the social elements in morality and to absolutize them. Class, national and other modifications of morality are only forms that contain universal human norms of morality and justice that are civilizational in content. The latter are a reflection in the minds of people of the really existing order of relationships in society that has developed over centuries and millennia, a certain understanding of the essence of society, history, man and his existence. The social purpose of these elementary rules of community life is to protect members of society from situations that threaten their life and safety, health and dignity. Simple moral standards condemn murder, theft, violence, deception, and slander as the greatest evils. Elementary moral norms also include parents’ concern for raising their children, children’s care for their parents, respect for elders, etc.

With the help of morality, society evaluates not only the practical actions of people, but also their motives, motives and intentions. A special role in moral regulation is played by the formation in each individual of the ability to relatively independently develop and direct his own line of behavior in society without everyday external control. This ability is expressed in concepts such as conscience, honor, self-esteem.

Dignity - self-esteem of an individual, her awareness of her qualities, abilities, worldview, duty accomplished and social significance.

Moral requirements for a person do not mean achieving some particular and immediate results in a certain situation, but following general norms and principles of behavior. Performing, along with the law that appeared later, the role of a regulator of people’s behavior, morality has common features with it, but at the same time fundamentally differs from it in a number of significant aspects.

The unity between them is expressed in the following:

1) in the system of social norms they are the most universal, extending to the entire society;

2) the norms of morality and law have a single object of regulation - social relations;

3) both legal norms and moral norms come from society;

4) legal norms and moral norms have a similar structure;

5) legal norms and moral norms emerged from the mononorms of primitive society.

However, there are many differences between the rules of law and morality:

1) law is a set of norms established or sanctioned by the state, recorded in legal acts. Moral standards are formed in the process of approval, development of moral views and ideals;

2) legal acts express the state will, moral norms express public opinion;

3) legal norms are binding from the moment the legal act in which they are contained comes into force. Their implementation is supported, where necessary, by a special apparatus and the power of state coercion. The implementation of moral norms does not require organized coercive force. They are fulfilled as a result of habit, internal motivations. The guarantor of morality is the individual’s conscience and public opinion, public assessment of people’s behavior;

4) moral norms extend their influence to a wider sphere of relations than that regulated by law. Moral norms regulate many relationships that are not subject to legal regulation (relationships of friendship, love, etc.);

5) legal norms are characterized by greater specificity of content and definiteness of formulation than moral norms. Morality is contained in the public consciousness, law - in special normative acts that are in written form. Moral requirements provide greater scope for interpretation than legal ones;

6) if moral norms regulate social relations from the point of view of good and evil, just and unjust, then legal norms - from the point of view of legal and illegal, lawful and unlawful.

The relationship between law and morality is manifested in the following:

1) the implementation of legal norms and their execution are largely determined by the extent to which they comply with moral requirements. For legal norms to be effective, they at least must not contradict the rules of morality;

2) the law as a whole must correspond to the maritime views of society. Law should contribute to the establishment of the ideals of goodness and justice in society;

3) in some cases, law helps rid society of outdated moral norms. It was through law that the process of overcoming blood feud, one of the postulates of morality of the past, took place;

4) moral views are the basis on which legal views, legal ideals and, ultimately, the content of legal norms are formed;

5) some legal norms directly establish moral norms, supporting them with legal sanctions (for example, criminal norms).

Moral - These are generally accepted ideas about good and evil, right and wrong, bad and good . According to these ideas, there arise moral standards human behavior. A synonym for morality is morality. A separate science deals with the study of morality - ethics.

Morality has its own characteristics.

Signs of morality:

1. The universality of moral norms (that is, they affect everyone equally, regardless of social status).
2. Voluntariness (no one is forced to comply with moral standards, since this is done by moral principles such as conscience, public opinion, karma and other personal beliefs).
3. Comprehensiveness (that is, moral rules apply in all areas of activity - in politics, in creativity, in business, etc.).

Functions of morality.

Philosophers identify five functions of morality:

1. Evaluation function divides actions into good and bad on a good/evil scale.
2. Regulatory function develops rules and moral standards.
3. Educational function is engaged in the formation of a system of moral values.
4. Control function monitors compliance with rules and regulations.
5. Integrating function maintains a state of harmony within the person himself when performing certain actions.

For social science, the first three functions are key, since they play the main social role of morality.

Moral standards.

Moral standards Much has been written throughout the history of mankind, but the main ones appear in most religions and teachings.

1. Prudence. This is the ability to be guided by reason, and not by impulse, that is, to think before doing.
2. Abstinence. It concerns not only marital relations, but also food, entertainment and other pleasures. Since ancient times, the abundance of material values ​​has been considered an obstacle to the development of spiritual values. Our Great Lent is one of the manifestations of this moral norm.
3. Justice. The principle “don’t dig a hole for someone else, you’ll fall into it yourself,” which is aimed at developing respect for other people.
4. Persistence. The ability to endure failures (as they say, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger).
5. Hard work. Labor has always been encouraged in society, so this norm is natural.
6. Humility. Humility is the ability to stop in time. It is a cousin of prudence, with an emphasis on self-development and introspection.
7. Politeness. Polite people have always been valued, since a bad peace, as you know, is better than a good quarrel; and politeness is the basis of diplomacy.

Principles of morality.

Moral principles- These are moral norms of a more private or specific nature. The principles of morality at different times in different communities were different, and the understanding of good and evil was accordingly different.

For example, the principle of “an eye for an eye” (or the principle of talion) is far from being held in high esteem in modern morality. But " golden rule of morality” (or Aristotle’s principle of the golden mean) has not changed at all and still remains a moral guide: do to people as you would like to be done to you (in the Bible: “love your neighbor”).

Of all the principles that guide the modern teaching of morality, one main one can be deduced - principle of humanism. It is humanity, compassion, and understanding that can characterize all the other principles and moral norms.

Morality affects all types of human activity and, from the point of view of good and evil, gives an understanding of what principles to follow in politics, in business, in society, in creativity, etc.

Morality is a conditional concept of rules, principles, assessments, norms based on the paradigm of assessments of evil and good, which was formed in a certain period of time. This is a model of social consciousness, a method of regulating the behavior of a subject in society. It develops both in individual and social forms of subjective relations.

The concept of morality from the point of view considered by psychologists is a fragment of the human psyche, formed at a deep level, responsible for assessing events occurring in various planes with the meaning of good and bad. The word morality is often used as a synonym for the word morality.

What is morality

The word "morality" originates from classical Latin. It is derived from “mos,” a Latin word meaning “character, custom.” Referring to Aristotle, Cicero, guided by this meaning, formed the words: “moralis” and “moralitas” - moral and ethics, which became equivalent to expressions from the Greek language: ethics and ethical.

The term “morality” is mainly used to designate the type of behavior of society as a whole, but there are exceptions, for example, Christian or bourgeois morality. Thus, the term is used only in relation to a limited group of the population. Analyzing the attitude of society in different eras of existence to the same action, it should be noted that morality is a conditional value, variable in connection with the accepted social structure. Each nation has its own morality, based on experience and traditions.

Some scientists have also noted that different moral rules apply to subjects not only of different nationalities, but also to subjects belonging to an “alien” group. The definition of a group of people in the vector “friend”, “stranger” occurs at the psychological level of the individual’s relationship with this group in various senses: cultural, ethnic, and others. By identifying himself with a specific group, the subject accepts those rules and norms (morality) that are accepted in it; consider this way of life more fair than following the morality of the whole society.

A person knows a large number of meanings of this concept, which is interpreted from various points of view in various sciences, but its basis remains constant - this is a person’s definition of his actions, the actions of society in the equivalent of “good or bad.”

Morality is created on the basis of the paradigm adopted in a particular society, since the designations of “good or bad” are relative, not absolute, and the explanation of the morality or immorality of various types of acts is conditional.

Morality, as a combination of rules and norms of society, is formed over a long period on the basis of traditions and laws adopted in a particular society. For comparison, you can use the example associated with the burning of witches - women who were suspected of using magic and witchcraft. In a period such as the Middle Ages, against the background of adopted laws, such an action was considered a highly moral act, that is, good. In the modern paradigm of adopted laws, such atrocity is considered an absolutely unacceptable and stupid crime against the subject. At the same time, you can put such incidents as holy wars, genocide or slavery. In their era, in a particular society with its own laws, such actions were accepted as the norm and were considered absolutely moral.

The formation of morality is directly related to the evolution of various ethnic groups of humanity in its social key. Scientists who study the social evolution of peoples consider morality to be the result of the influence of the forces of evolution on the group as a whole and on individuals individually. Based on their understanding, behavioral norms prescribed by morality change during the evolution of humanity, ensuring the survival of species and their reproduction, and guaranteeing the success of evolution. Along with this, the subject forms in himself a “pro-social” fundamental part of the psyche. As a result, a feeling of responsibility for what was done, a feeling of guilt, is formed.

Accordingly, morality is a certain set of behavioral norms that is formed over a long period of time, under the influence of environmental conditions at a certain moment it forms a set of established ideological norms that contribute to the development of human cooperation. It is also aimed at avoiding the individualism of the subject in society; formation of groups united by a common worldview. Sociobiologists consider this point of view in a number of species of social animals; there is a desire to change behavior aimed at survival and preservation of one’s own species during the period of evolution. Which corresponds to the formation of morality, even in animals. In humans, moral norms are more sophisticated and diverse, but they are also concentrated on preventing individualism in behavior, which contributes to the formation of nationalities and, accordingly, increases the chances of survival. It is believed that even such norms of behavior as parental love are consequences of the evolution of human morality - this type of behavior increases the level of survival of offspring.

Studies of the human brain conducted by sociobiologists determine that the parts of the subject's cerebral cortex that are involved when a person is preoccupied with moral issues do not form a separate cognitive subsystem. Often, during the period of solving moral problems, areas of the brain are activated that localize the neural network responsible for the subject’s ideas about the intentions of others. To the same extent, the neural network responsible for the individual’s representation of the emotional experiences of other individuals is involved. That is, when solving moral problems, a person uses those parts of his brain that correspond to empathy and compassion, this indicates that morality is aimed at developing mutual understanding between subjects (an individual’s ability to see things through the eyes of another subject, to understand his feelings and experiences). According to the theory of moral psychology, morality as such develops and changes as the personality develops. There are several approaches to understanding the formation of morality at the personal level:

– cognitive approach (Jean Piaget, Lorenz Kohlberg and Eliot Turiel) – morality in personal development goes through several constructive stages or areas;

– biological approach (Jonathan Haidt and Martin Hoffman) – morality is considered against the background of the development of the social or emotional component of the human psyche. Interesting for the development of the doctrine of morality as a psychological component of personality is the approach of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who suggested that morality is formed as a consequence of the desire of the “superego” to get out of a state of guilt.

What are moral standards

Fulfillment of moral norms is the moral duty of the subject; violation of these measures of behavior represents a feeling of moral guilt.

Moral norms in society are generally accepted measures of subject behavior that arise from formed morality. The totality of these norms forms a certain system of rules, which in all respects differ from the normative systems of society such as customs, rights and ethics.

In the early stages of formation, moral norms were directly associated with religion, which prescribes the meaning of divine revelation to moral norms. Each religion has a set of certain moral norms (commandments) that are mandatory for all believers. Failure to comply with prescribed moral standards in religion is considered a sin. In various world religions, there is a certain pattern in accordance with moral standards: theft, murder, adultery, and lies are undeniable rules of behavior for believers.

Researchers studying the formation of moral norms put forward several directions in understanding the meaning of these norms in society. Some believe that compliance with the rules prescribed in morality takes precedence over other norms. Followers of this direction attribute certain properties to these moral norms: universality, categoricalness, immutability, cruelty. The second direction, which is being studied by scientists, suggests that the attribution of absolutism, generally accepted and obligatory moral norms acts as someone.

In terms of the form of manifestation, some moral norms in society are similar to legal norms. So the principle “thou shalt not steal” is common to both systems, but by asking the question why a subject follows this principle, one can determine the direction of his thinking. If a subject follows a principle because he is afraid of legal liability, then his act is legal. If the subject confidently follows this principle, because theft is a bad (evil) act, the vector of direction of his behavior follows the moral system. There are precedents in which compliance with moral standards is contrary to the law. A subject, considering it his duty, for example, to steal medicine in order to save his loved one from death, acts morally correctly, while absolutely breaking the law.

Studying the formation of moral norms, scientists came to a certain classification:

– norms affecting questions about the existence of an individual as a biological being (murder);

– norms on the independence of the subject;

– norms of trust (loyalty, truthfulness);

– norms relating to the dignity of the subject (honesty, justice);

– norms about other moral norms.

Functions of morality

Man is a creature with freedom of choice and he has every right to choose the path of following moral standards or vice versa. This choice of a person who puts good or evil on the scales is called a moral choice. Having such freedom of choice in real life, the subject is faced with a difficult task: to follow what is personal or to blindly follow what should be. Having made a choice for himself, the subject bears certain moral consequences, for which the subject himself is responsible, both to society and to himself.

Analyzing the features of morality, we can extract several of its functions:

– Regulation function. Following moral principles leaves a certain mark on the consciousness of the individual. The formation of certain views of behavior (what is allowed to be done and what is not allowed) occurs from an early age. This kind of action helps the subject to adjust his behavior in line with usefulness not only for himself, but also for society. Moral norms are capable of regulating the individual beliefs of the subject to the same extent as the interaction between groups of people, which favors the preservation of culture and stability.

– Evaluation function. Morality evaluates actions and situations occurring in a social society in terms of good and evil. The actions that have taken place are assessed for their usefulness or negativity for further development, followed by a moral assessment of each action. Thanks to this function, the subject forms the concept of belonging to society and develops his own position in it.

– Function of education. Under the influence of this function, a person develops an awareness of the importance of not only his own needs, but also the needs of the people who surround him. A feeling of empathy and respect arises, which contributes to the harmonious development of relationships in society, understanding the moral ideals of another individual, contributes to a better understanding of each other.

– Control function. Determines control over the use of moral norms, as well as condemnation of their consequences at the societal and individual levels.

– Integration function. Following moral standards unites humanity into a single group, which supports the survival of man as a species. It also helps maintain the integrity of the spiritual world of the individual. The key functions of morality are: evaluative, educational and regulatory. They reflect the social significance of morality.

Morals and ethics

The term ethics is of Greek origin from the word "ethos". The use of this word denoted actions or actions of a person that were powerful to him personally. Aristotle defined the meaning of the word "ethos" as the virtue of a subject's character. Subsequently, it was customary that the word “ethicos” is ethos, meaning something related to the temperament or disposition of the subject. The emergence of such a definition led to the formation of the science of ethics - the study of the virtues of the character of the subject. In the culture of the ancient Roman Empire there was a word “moralis” - defining a wide range of human phenomena. Later, a derivative of this term “moralitas” appeared - relating to customs or character. Analyzing the etymological content of these two terms (“moralitas” and “ethicos”), it should be noted that their meanings coincide.

Many people know that such concepts as “morality” and “ethics” are close in meaning, and they are also often considered interchangeable. Many people use these concepts as extensions of each other. Ethics, first of all, is a philosophical direction that studies moral issues. Often the expression “ethics” is used to designate specific moral principles, traditions, and customs that exist among subjects of a limited group of society. The Kantian system views the word morality, using it to denote the concept of duty, principles of behavior and obligations. The word "ethics" uses Aristotle's system of reasoning to denote virtue, the inseparability of moral and practical considerations.

The concept of morality, as a system of principles, forms a set of rules that are based on many years of practice, and allows a person to determine the style of behavior in society. Ethics is a section of philosophy and theoretical justification of these principles. In the modern world, the concept of ethics has retained its original designation as a science in the ranks of philosophy that studies human properties, real phenomena, rules and norms, which are moral norms in society.