Moral vs Immoral
When discussing morality, moral and immoral actions can be understood as two opposing actions, as there is a clear distinction between the two. In any society, morality plays a key role, embedded into our social system through various mechanisms such as religion and values. These dictate the correct and approved behavior, in opposition to other actions that are considered wrong or immoral. This sense of morality varies from individual to individual; some people have very high standards when it comes to moral behavior, while others do not. Through this article, we will explore the difference between moral and immoral while gaining a comprehensive understanding of each term.
What does Moral mean?
A moral individual is concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior. A moral person always tries to follow the accepted standards of behavior and makes an effort to do the right thing at all times. This can sometimes be challenging, but a moral person is consistently guided by their morality. Although laws and the legal system are slightly different from morality, morality does provide a basis for laws. For example, a moral person would not try to steal something belonging to another person. This act of stealing is considered illegal by the law. In this example, morality and the legal system are in sync. However, when it comes to helping someone in trouble, there is no law. In this case, morality guides the person to engage in such behavior.
This sense of morality comes to the person through their socialization process. The influence of family, such as parents, and other social agents like priests and teachers, can lay a foundation for this sense of morality. This encourages the person to maintain a sense of morality, which can even operate as an obligation that they feel towards the rest of society.
What does Immoral mean?
An immoral individual is not concerned with the principles of right and wrong. An immoral person goes against the accepted standards of behavior and engages in behavior that is considered deviant by society. For example, an immoral person might steal, lie, or hurt others. This is because their sense of morality is minimal.
A society usually dictates what is immoral, as well as what is moral. For instance, when speaking of sexuality, homosexual behavior is considered immoral in some societies. However, this notion of what is moral and immoral differs from one society to another. This signifies that morality can be context-bound as well. Overall, being moral and immoral can be understood as two different but interrelated concepts.
Key Takeaways
- Definitions of Moral and Immoral: Being moral is when an individual is concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior, while being immoral is when the individual is not concerned with these principles.
- Nature: What is considered moral and immoral differs from society to society.
- Positive vs Negative: Moral actions are viewed as positive, and immoral actions are considered negative.
