Probably every person, even those who are not familiar with philosophy, has ever asked himself the question: “What is a moral and ethical duty? How should I behave in society in order to have the right to be called a Human? After reading this article, you will learn why moral duty is an ambiguous concept and how various philosophers have interpreted it. There is still no exact definition.
A person's moral duty is a disputable concept
One of the most difficult aspects of ethical thinking is the ability to critically analyze one's own beliefs and allow for the possibility of error. When we take for granted the reasonableness of the reasons why we act, we do not question many things. Although sometimes you just need to at least doubt them or even resist them.
Our ideas of morality 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 compelled to follow established beliefs and rarely ask ourselves:“Are they based on truth or just habit?”
What does the law say?
The law is a kind of cultural compass. Remember Hammurabi's code of laws. Certain rules are written on a slab more than two meters high. On top of this stone monument was depicted King Hammurabi, respectfully standing in front of a seated Shamash, the goddess of justice. Shamash dictated laws from heaven to her earthly representative. Of course, these moral norms did not come 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 on moral duty
According to Socrates, moral duty is the ability to be a good citizen. But this phrase needs to be understood and perceived more deeply. 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 himself in ignorance and virtue is learning. 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 life. Virtue is the ability of a person to control his behavior so that it corresponds to soundmeaning. It is the fulfillment of a moral duty. Acting in accordance with these rules, a person approaches the Absolute (or God, in the language of theology).
Aristotle's thoughts. Ethics
Moral duty and its definition also excited the thoughts of Aristotle. The philosopher devoted many of his works to this issue.
Aristotle (384-322 BC) stirred Western society even more. With the 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 causes.
He argued that all mankind strives for happiness as the final object of their activity, and all other virtues serve only as a means to achieve it. The philosopher adhered to the concept of eudemonism. According to this teaching, one should not try to satisfy all one's desires, even if they give pleasure. Only those aspirations that bring well-being can be considered virtues, so the moral duty is to choose 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 distinct, often conflicting moral norms.
Kant's philosophy
Another very interesting definition of the term discussed in the article can bemeet with Kant, an adherent of deontology. Kant defines virtue as the strength of the will of a human being, aimed at the fulfillment of duty. According to this thinker, the nature of true morality lies in the performance of duties, even if they do not bring pleasure to a person, and not because of the fear of punishment due to their failure. A person 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, just 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 really considers it his duty, can be called a highly moral person. Kant's philosophy is a system of moral values raised to the absolute. The Thinker considered certain 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 do not fully agree with many value systems. 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, which we discussed in detail in the article, is very multifaceted and often contradictory, like every person.
