Why Should One Be Moral

The question of morality proves to be a complex interrogatory. Should I

be moral? If I should be, then why? Why is morality important to society? An

assumption can be made that morals derive from a purely religious perspective or the Golden Rule approach. We are told that it is right to be moral. This is an ineffective answer, since it does not apply to someone outside the moral circle

This in mind, there is really no way to prove this too a person who wants to know why he/she should be moral. According to Olen, the only answer to them would be "because you are". Happiness could also be included in the list of moral reasons. I personally feel that this is the best supported reason for being moral. Although there will be times when the moral decision will not be pleasurable, it will eventually lead to happiness. Morality is important for

society as a whole, as it makes life livable.

What exactly is the Definition of Morality

The term "morality" can be used either

1. descriptively to refer to a code of conduct put forward by a society or,

a) some other group, such as a religion, or

b) accepted by an individual for her own behavior or

2. normatively to refer to a code of conduct that, given specified conditions, would be put forward by all rational persons.

How morality is defined plays a crucial, although often unacknowledged, role in formulating ethical theories. To take "morality" to refer to an actually existing code of conduct is quite likely to lead to some form of relativism. Among those who use "morality" normatively, different specifications of the conditions under which all rational persons would put forward a code of conduct result in different kinds of moral theories.

To claim that "morality" in the normative sense does not have any referent, that is, to claim that there is no code of conduct that, under any plausible specified conditions, would be put forward by all rational persons, results in moral skepticism. Thus, although, not widely discussed, the definition of morality has great significance for moral theory.

Now expanding on the happiness theory, Aristotle believed that happiness is the quality of whole human life. We all have misconceptions about happiness. Most of us believe that happiness is experiencing a lively feeling of joy or pleasant feelings. We can be happy at one moment, but not the next. Aristotle on the other hand said that true happiness includes pleasures, joys, and successes as well as many pains, grief's, and troubles in ones life. A happy life is not cause by the pleasures we've had, nor marred by the displeasures we've had.

Aristotle defined the things that make happiness as health, wealth,

friendship, and good moral character. Aristotle stated that happiness was also the highest good leaving nothing more to be desired. Life is made perfect by possession of all good things. We seek happiness for its own sake. All others

are sought for happiness.

Aristotle believed to become happy one must have good character and be willing to suffer to obtain the greater good later on. We should seek the good in the long run. Most men/women will not do this. We take the immediate pleasure. Most people think that happiness is unique to each person. Aristotle believed that there is only one true conception and that it holds the same for all humans. Power is not an attribute to happiness because it would preclude some people from being happy if they are ruled. Aristotle believed as our for fathers that everyone has an ultimate right to the pursuit of happiness.

He believed that this pursuit must be cooperative, not competitive. All

this said, it is clear that it fits into his belief that everything in nature has a goal towards which it naturally strives (i.e. happiness). A morally virtuous person is one who is moderate in his actions. He chooses the mean as opposed to the extremes.

Aristotle was more concerned with the real world than with the theological world. His bottom line view point was that we have no answer to the question "Why do you want to be happy?" Students of Ethics might ask Ð''What are our obligations to ourselves and society?' and Ð''Why should one be moral?' I will attempt to answer this question.

I think it is important to define morality and ethics, as I understand them. Morals are a set of rules passed to us through social and religious experiences that serve to govern our independent actions. Moral beliefs rest only on our sense of right and wrong. It is important to note that morals only apply to individual action and consequence.

A Moral person not only makes the society a better place to live in but also affects others to be moral.

With morality, ones behavior is held to an ideal code of conduct. Ethics, however, deals with an imperfect, but attainable set of practices. It is left to the individual to take a decision that is moral, regardless of its ethical standing.

Socrates held that Ð''To know the good is to do the good.' By this, he meant that no man knowingly acts against his own interest. Socrates believed that no man could consciously do wrong if that person truly knew the right course of action. Socrates defines moral as being the logical result of rational thought. Through reason, one will know morality.

Plato, a student of Socrates, held a similar view. Plato taught that moral values are absolute truths and thus are abstract perfect entities. He called this the Ð''Idea of the Good.' The Idea of the Good is the supreme source of all values. Plato felt that this was the fulfillment of truth and reality. He also defines this good as unachievable, this good is something to be sought after, but never achieved.

Aristotle held that there were two kinds of virtue: moral and intellectual. He felt that morals are the tempering of man's natural desires and appetites.

Intellect, he says, is the development of acceptable habits through repetition. He believed that Ð''We become just by doing just acts.' Aristotle argues that most virtues fall at a mean between more

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