Grendal

Mr. Kadar Honors III November 19, 2012 Throughout the existence of human life, morality has gradually become the basis of an individual’s choice and actions. However, the question remains: what determines morality' In the past, people’s interaction with one another was strictly limited to their family and the isolated community in which they lived. As a result of this seclusion and intimate relationship within this specific society, over time, the morals of each individual converged to form an overarching set of moral codes to guide the decisions of the people and a government system to enforce these principles. Even as society transitioned into the modern age, it remains the main influence on an individual’s morals. However, while society can influence and foster morality, it cannot guarantee an individual’s acceptance of that morality because of free choice. Even though society does impact an individual’s morality, it is ultimately up to that individual to positively or negatively act and react in life. An individual’s morality creates an interdependency of physical and emotional responses. Morality determines responses and reactions to other people phys Physical responses can range from simple responses such as picking up a pencil for a stranger to a more stimulating or personal response, such as a hug. Despite the different situations, these choices to act to help a stranger or comfort a friend are based off the morals of the individual. Emotional responses, on the other hand, are the result of physical responses. Whereas a hug is a physical action, the emotions that are connected with it – sympathy, understanding, compassion are triggered by that act. Physical and emotional responses are not limited to two individuals, but rather can be on a large, indirect scale. For instance, a person sees a homeless person and experiences an emotional reaction of sympathy and hope, and because of these feelings, that person decides to physically respond to the situation by creating an organization to fight poverty. This physical reaction to his emotional response from seeing the homeless person has positively affected society and can inspire others to act, creating a chain reaction. However, because physical and emotional responses directly correlate to an individual’s morals, he also has the choice to negatively react to society. For example, a person who has developed an immoral conscience will choose vengeance over justice as an emotional response, thus instigating a negative physical response, such as killing. Similarly, negative responses can also cause chain reactions of destruction because say that person kills another to satisfy his need vengeance; while he himself is content, he does not consider the effect of his actions on that person’s family, which can lead to more violence. Morality also sets the standards for an individual’s basic behaviors which creates a sense of responsibility. In the past, knights followed a code of chivalry – protect the defenseless, respect women, and be loyal to the king. Not only did this code direct the knights’ way of life, it also influenced their actions, thus affecting society as a whole. This code of chivalry and way of life later transitioned into a less extreme characteristic: respect. Respect, honor, and other characteristics gradually amalgamated to form the exterior features of a person’s morals. While an individual’s personality is the face of his morals, the environment he lives in, either past or present, is the foundation of his morals. For instance, a person who grows up in a privileged home with understanding and compassionate parents is more likely to acquire these traits as opposed to a person who grows up with an abusive father and an apathetic mother. However, while the environment where a person grows up in does have a significant influence over his morals, there are people who overcome their poor environment and develop better morals. The actions of people also establish a sense of right and wrong, not only in terms of self, but also within communities and government. Since actions and reaction contribute to an individual’s morals and his actions affects the morals of other people, the morals of a group of people coalesce to form a set of norms within a community. In order to maintain and enforce these morals, the government and law system was created. However, when the morals of the government oppose that of an individual’s, people feel the need to protest, either violently or peacefully. For example, during the civil rights movement, many leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr. protested for rights, but in a peaceful manner. “Similar activities [protests, teach-ins, sit-ins, marches] drew many together with regard to civil rights. Many others came together in group activities in counter protest to the civil rights movement” (Turiel 69). However, as a reaction to this peaceful protest, violent organizations, such as the Ku Klux Klan was formed in response to these protests because the members felt that it was immoral for the African Americans to be treated equally. While morality is associated with values, it can also cause a sense of overwhelming self righteousness and pride which causes a tendency to judge others by an individual’s own morals and force them upon others. This haughtiness was highlighted in the 19th century, during the age of imperialism. Many European countries felt morally superior to weaker nations and believed that the only way to help the nations was through colonization. While colonization did protect the people from wars, they were forced to accept a new government and live by the morals of another country. Similar to imperialism, the reason for the Iraqi War – to force a democracy on to a people who consider the United States’ presence as more of an intrusion than assistance - parallels the sanctimoniousness of imperialism. On a less extreme scale, peer pressure also is a form of imperialism because a group of people try to force their morals onto another person. While an individual’s morals Morality can also lead to a self centered, narcissistic view that an individual’s own morals are superior to that of others. The prevalent white male chauvinism during the 1700’s gradually transitioned from position to culture: “Cultural practices…serve to distance, isolate, or exclude groups of people from decision making and classes of activities” (199). As a result of this tradition, women, African Americans, and other ethnic groups were discriminated against. Even though there are currently laws protecting the rights of women and other groups, many conservatives still believe in the male superiority and thus form hate groups to target these people. People also use morality as an excuse for abusing others because they feel superior. For example, the Puritans who were supposedly morally upfront people, used their moral superiority as a facade to murder innocent people during the Salem Witch Trials. In addition to Puritans, Hitler utilized his concept of an Aryan race as justification to systematically kill millions of people who he considered to be morally inferior to him. Even though in most cases society influences an individual’s morals which determine his actions and responses, in some instances, environment is not a factor of an individual’s morals. For instance, psychopaths, individuals who are separated by body and mind defy society’s standards of morals. While they are members of society, the actions of others do not trigger emotional responses, thus breaking the cycle of actions and morals. Although society strives for moral perfection, it is impossible to achieve unless people give up their freedom of choice and emotions. Even though Works Cited Turiel, Elliot. Culture of Morality. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2002. Print