Different Perspectives of Morality

The very definition of Morality goes a long way when it comes to the point of view of philosophers, people of different cultures, scientists, religious groups, etc. mainly because the definition of it is indistinctive for it takes the shape of whoever makes the definition of it and if it is widely-accepted to most. From this, we would look further into the meaning of Morality based from the viewpoint of prominent people who are and were known to have studied the very principle of what people mostly believed in and continues to hold on. But, before we dive in deeper into its understanding, the main question is, why is there a certain barrier when it comes to how Morality is viewed? Despite the different standpoints in Morality, is there a common ground that ties people together which can assess right conducts from wrong conducts?

Morality can be defined by a person’s culture or how a person was brought up, as what Ruth Benedict, an anthropologist, has said. One of the well-known people which discusses about the Morality being connected with culture. In the scientific perspective, one’s culture plays a big role in influencing a person’s behavior and beliefs. An action becomes morally good depending if it is widely accepted or socially approved by many. So, even if it is wrong for another culture, an action may be morally right for the other culture since that is how they are brought up and are used to. But this theory was opposed by Harry Gensler and Mary Grace Tokmento, stating that if “good” is “socially approved,” then it becomes like a bandwagon effect - it takes away the person’s opportunity to think for him or herself of what is really right from wrong, instead, he or she just follows the values of others even if he/she stands against it. So, what happens is that, when only a handful of people view the same thing, it automatically becomes wrong since it is not viewed by many. Ethics can also be objective based from Thomas Nagel, an American philosopher, who states that the basis of morality comes from accepting that good and harm equates to good and bad, if you place yourself in the position of others you are treating. This is connected with David Hume’s perception of morality. It is not derived from reasoning but from a person’s feelings. Good and evil is felt by our own being which is connected to our nature. This boils down to C.S. Lewis’ “Law of Human Nature.”

On the contrary, when it comes to the religious perspective about Morality, C.S. Lewis mentioned that Morality is set by a higher knowledgeable being, far beyond our understanding. Meaning, it is based from a greater source. It was not made by human itself, but rather, from God. That is why he called this moral law or rule the “Law of Nature” or the “Law of Human Nature,” because he sees that it is already in our nature, even when we were young, to know and choose what is the right thing to do from what is not. It did not need to be taught. It is already embedded within us all throughout. It is also called the Law of Human Nature because even non-believers know about morals even though they do not follow a god that directs them of their actions.

From the different point of views, we can say that the general or the overall meaning of morality is defined or differs based on culture and from a person’s nature. The barrier that differs morality from others are the scientific point of view (anthropology: morality is based on culture) and the religious perspective (moral law is from God in which we did not invent but naturally obey). But, the common ground between these that ties us all together, is that morality has something to do with empathy and thinking about the condition of others, as well as yourself, in the greater outcome. A person will have to think twice of his actions whether this will benefit the others including himself. He or she knows that an action is bad even if it is not taught, it is already in our nature because we have conscience and feelings of our own, but our knowledge about what is good and bad changes and strengthens from how we were brought up and from the culture we thrived in.