Functions and structure of morality

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

Morality is a rather complex phenomenon that contradicts the form of social thinking. On the other hand, it can be characterized as a norm of values and principles that determine the actions of people. Such a set of moral ideals, rules and requirements of behavior illustrates the relationship of people in the context of the definitions of evil and good, justice, class and status of each person.

The concept and structure of morality are determined by the multitude of functions performed by it. The specific essence of this component of human behavior was formed under the influence of a long period of history. Let's take a closer look at each of the functions.

1. Cognitive. Teaches people to see the actions of other individuals in terms of moral values.
2. Educational. Causes the development of certain stereotypes of behavior in each of the individuals. This allows you to transform the norms of ethics into a persistent habit.

3. 

   Value-oriented. Morality allows you to highlight certain guidelines for each individual. This function does not carry any practical significance, however, it gives a person ideas about his purpose and the meaning of life. It is likely that the individual will not think about this on a daily basis, but in difficult times, the thought “why do I live?” And the value-oriented function allows you to find the answer to the question.
4. Regulatory. Moral norms allow you to control both the actions of an individual and the behavior of society as a whole. People do not regulate each other's behavior, moral standards do it for them.

The structure of morality includes several historical levels. Epochs succeeded one another, the moral component of public thinking changed. However, the main elements were invariably value orientations, moral judgments and a sense of ethics. The structure of morality presents the elements of moral consciousness at the theoretical level as a whole system of categories of values. Here the criteria of good and evil, happiness, conscience, justice and life are interconnected.

The structure of morality includes such an important component as moral norms. They are a set of principles that are in the individual and public consciousness. A special property of this component is imperativeness. Moral norms accumulate acquired useful both historical and social experience of manypeople.

The structure of morality also provides a value orientation, which was mentioned earlier. Actions, feelings, hopes and plans - everything can be subordinated to a great goal. People are capable of giving up a lot for this. All aspects of human life are often guided by moral values.

The structure of morality also defines various psychological mechanisms for personal self-control. One of the most ancient and personal regulators is conscience. Together with honor, a sense of duty and dignity, it imposes moral responsibility on a person.