Morality in psychology appeared as a result. Moral principles and morality in human life

Determining the degree of viability of society. Close to this understanding of morality is its definition as collective intuition.

Morality is aimed at uniformity in the regulation of relationships and reducing conflict in society.

So-called "public morality" - the morality accepted by a particular society, is usually endemic to a culture or historical period, sometimes even to a social or religious group, although different moral systems may be similar to a certain extent.

It is necessary to separate the ideal (promoted) and real moral systems.

Morality is formed mainly as a result of education, in to a lesser extent- as a result of the action of the empathy mechanism or the adaptation process. An individual’s morality, as an imperative subconscious mechanism, is difficult to consciously critically analyze and correct.

Morality serves as the subject of the study of ethics. A broader concept that goes beyond morality is ethos.

Sociology of morality and personality

One of the factors in the formation of morality is a person’s community, his ability to empathize with others (empathy) and altruistic urges. Following morality is also possible for selfish reasons - in this case, a person expects to be treated within the framework of the same morality. . In this case, it leads to an improvement in reputation. Evolutionary approach to morality and extensive coverage of the issue of reputation in society is contained in Matt Ridley’s book “The Origin of Virtue.”

The sociology of morality studies patterns as the formation of systems moral values various social groups, and the interactions of these social groups, determined by the action of existing moral systems. The sociology of morality deals with the study of the nature of the causes of conflicts between individuals and social groups caused by the discrepancy between their moral values, as well as the identification of fateful trends in the development of society in the conditions of their resolution. moral problems. Morality manifests itself in public and personal level. An individual acquires moral norms in the process of socialization, orientation towards the virtuous - towards the humane, kind, honest, noble, just. A person acquires information about what decency, honor, and conscience are. At the same time, morality changes in the process of rule-making of people, independently, with full responsibility for the morality of their choice, making decisions about the choice of goals and means.

Morality and the conflict of civilizations

Moral judgments can be justified within the framework of some normative system, but in the case where conflicting moral judgments from different normative systems collide, there is no basis for choosing between them. Thus, it is incorrect to call any system of moral values ​​good or bad without mentioning that it is assessed from the standpoint of another moral system. With this understanding of morality, universal human values in theory impossible due to the diversity of moral standards. Practically same in the world is coming constant struggle between different civilizations, one of the reasons for which, according to observers, is precisely the discrepancy in moral values. According to another point of view, human values, in which tolerance is central, must become part of any moral system precisely for the purpose of avoiding such conflicts and attendant violence.

In this regard, the words of Karl Marx are interesting:

A republican has a different conscience than a royalist, a have has a different conscience than a have-not, a thinker has a different conscience than someone who is unable to think.

Morality and law

With the development of moral values ​​in the world and the spread of the idea of ​​the existence of universal morality, religion itself and its sacred texts began to be subject to sometimes disappointing assessments by these somewhat different moral systems. For example, cruelty and injustice towards non-believers (see kaafir, goy) and atheists, practiced in some religions, is often considered immoral.

Sometimes religion is criticized and proclaimed to be a teaching that is immoral. The argument that is often used is that some people use religion as a tool to achieve their own goals. A similar opinion is sometimes expressed in the words of Sigmund Freud, saying that immorality has at all times found no less support in religion than morality.

The God of the Old Testament has been characterized as immoral by critics of religion such as Mark Twain and Richard Dawkins:

About the ancient Greek gods:

“How cruel you are, oh gods, how you have surpassed everyone in envy!” (Homer, "Odyssey")

According to one study based on a representative survey on moral issues, a shift away from religiosity does not lead to an increase in immorality. “The statistics obtained show that atheists are no more immoral than believers. Religion leaves its mark on some of the answers, but this relates rather to the peculiarities of the dogmas of various beliefs. In strictly moral and ethical issues, each person is guided by his own considerations, received during upbringing from his parents or innate, and it cannot be said that atheists are brought up worse than religious people". There are studies showing that atheists are in some ways kinder than believers.

Notes

see also

• Guillotine Yuma

Links

• Monkey Upgrade book. Chapter 34. The new morality is morality
• National Encyclopedia of Philosophy, articles on morality
• Sam Harris. Science can provide answers to moral questions. TED conference talk

Literature

• Apresyan R. G. Morality // ETHICS: educational resource center. Ethical encyclopedia.
• Prokofiev A. Individual and social meaning of morality through the prism of the philosophy of F. Nietzsche // Historical and philosophical yearbook. Institute of Philosophy RAS. - M.: Nauka, 2005. - P. 153-175.
• Trotsky L. . Their morals and ours
• Vitaly Tepikin. Intelligentsia: cultural context. Ivanovo: IvGU, 2008.
• Vladimir Mayakovsky What is good and what is bad?

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Antonyms:

See what “Morality” is in other dictionaries:

- (from Latin moralitas, moralis, mores tradition, folk custom, later disposition, character, customs) a concept through which in the mental and practical experience people are identified by customs, laws, actions, characters that express the highest values ​​and... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia

Morality- Moral ♦ Morale Let's imagine that they announced to us: tomorrow the end of the world is coming. The information is accurate and beyond doubt. With this news, politics will die on the spot - it cannot exist without a future. But morality? Moral in... ... Sponville's Philosophical Dictionary

morality- and, f. morale m., morale f. German Moral lat. moralis. 1. outdated Mood, morale. And if it is absolutely necessary that he brought about a new year in your physics, then protect yourself with luxury and laziness; and let there be no time for your morality... ... Historical Dictionary Gallicisms of the Russian language

- (lat. moralis doctrina; this. see moralist). Moral teaching, a set of rules recognized as true and serving as a guide in the actions of people. Dictionary foreign words, included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. MORALITY [fr. morale] ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

- (sittlichkeit) is translated based on the works of Hegel (Hegel) as morality. Refers to ethical standards that arise as a result of the interaction of the subjective values ​​of an individual and the objective values ​​of social institutions. If these values... ... Political science. Dictionary.

MORAL, morality, many. no, female (from Latin moralis moral). 1. Moral teaching, a set of rules of morality and ethics (book). “It is necessary that the whole task of upbringing, educating and teaching modern youth should be to instill in them communist... ... Dictionary Ushakova

See science... Dictionary of Russian synonyms and similar expressions. under. ed. N. Abramova, M.: Russian Dictionaries, 1999. morality, ethics; inference, science; race, edification, teaching, instruction, preaching, instruction, ethical standards,... ... Synonym dictionary

In the regulation of human behavior, interpersonal and social relations Many factors play a role, one of which is morality.

Some values ​​and norms may vary slightly depending on the era, people, class or society.

But still, the principles of morality remain unchanged at almost all times and in all corners globe: do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not do to others what you do not wish for yourself.

What is morality

Morality is a system of generally accepted norms of behavior aimed at improving and regulating relationships between people. The definition of the term belongs to the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero.

The main questions that morality answers are related to the understanding of good and evil. What can and should be done, and what cannot be done? Why people respect each other, but why not? In other words, this is a set of unspoken rules about how to live, existing to ensure that people remain human.

From the above it is clear that morality is the subject of the study of ethics. Often these two concepts are perceived as synonyms. They differ in that the latter relates more to theory, and the former to practice.

There is a generally accepted ethics and individual eras and professions (journalism, medicine, etc.).

Theories of metaethics

Celia Green identifies two types of morality:

• territorial and
• tribal or folk.

Territorial morality is paradoxical in that people in it are divided into “us” and “strangers” supposedly for the purpose of survival. At the same time, the fact of hospitality to “strangers” is inexplicable.

Functions of morality

The main functions of morality include:

• Educational - forms the right outlook on life, is able to influence a person, regardless of his age. The educational function is one of the main ones in the process of personality development.
• Regulatory - dictates the basic norms of behavior in society.
• Evaluative - gives an understanding of everything that happens from the position of division into good and evil. Answers the questions: What should and should not be done? How to proceed different situations? Which actions are praised and which are condemned?
• Controlling - allows you to draw a conclusion about the morality of actions and control them on the part of conscience and society.
• Integrating - unites everyone with common moral principles, its task is to preserve unity and peace in society, as well as the spirituality of everyone.

The structure of morality

An important niche in the structure of morality is a system of values, consisting of a set of public and individual moral views and ideals.

Values ​​are divided into primary ones, having the most high level significant and secondary.

The highest value is a person’s life, his attitude towards his neighbors and towards the world as a whole. The entire hierarchical structure is built in relation to this reference point. value series: love, peaceful coexistence, altruism, honesty, responsibility, courage, desire for self-improvement, hard work, etc.

It should be noted that this hierarchy can change in the process of personality development - for example, teenagers who do not fully understand the significance of their actions may commit a crime and harm the lives of other people just for the approval of their peers. Or, for example, a sense of responsibility - it also manifests itself with different strengths, depending on age, marital status and place in society.

It is important to form the correct value system in childhood, convincing with words and personal example.

Society promotes an idealized value system, that is, one in which, if followed, a person will make as few mistakes as possible in relationships with others. However, everyone has the right to choose - to follow this system or to be an adherent of another, if, of course, it does not cross the boundaries of legal norms. This decision called moral choice.

Moral norms

The concept of foundations implies certain views on what human behavior should be in different areas his life - how to behave in the family (mutual respect, trust, love, etc.), at work (arrive on time, honestly carry out assigned tasks, be polite with employees and superiors), with relatives, friends (help and rescue in difficult situations, support in every possible way), with friends and strangers(be polite, tactful and friendly). Here is idealistic example foundations In fact, not all people are close to these views and norms of behavior.

Also, the system of moral principles includes concepts about actions taken in various life situations, for example: take your grandmother across the road or give up your seat on public transport, etc.

Foundations develop and may change slightly throughout a person’s life, but those laid down in childhood, the fundamental ones, basically remain unchanged.

In addition, they can be divided into public and individual. For example: not stealing is a social rule, but returning a lost wallet is a sign of an individual’s well-established personal, highly moral laws.

Similarities and differences between law and morality

Law and morality are closely related to each other: they serve to maintain order in interpersonal and general social interactions. What are legal norms are necessarily included in the system of moral principles, for example: you cannot cause bodily harm to others, steal, etc. Differences between morality and law:

• Actions prohibited by the legal system are subject to administrative or criminal punishment established by the state and public condemnation, while violations of moral principles are subject to only public condemnation.
• Legal norms are established by the state, and moral norms by society.
• The right has specific established laws, morality is conveyed orally and sometimes does not have clear formulations.

Religious morality

One of the obligatory tasks of religion is to maintain moral guidelines and cultivate in a person the desire to follow these principles.

It can be said that the main function of religious morality is to clarify what is “good” and what is “evil”, what is useful person and society and what is harmful.

The answers to these questions are given by different religions of the world with the difference that monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) more clearly distinguish between the concepts of “good” and “evil” and are based on the 10 commandments of Moses. Based on these basic moral principles, all subsequent secondary ones are formed.

Beliefs where polytheism is present (pagan or folk) can also promote some of the rules present in monotheism, but they often contain contradictions that are sometimes fatal.

Moral or ethical codes

IN different religions fundamental principles of moral behavior were formulated. The following ethical codes are known:

• The Ten Commandments of Moses are recognized by Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and are also basic to all world morality.
• The golden rule is to treat others the way you want them to treat you.
• Seven laws of the descendants of Noah - against murder, adultery, blasphemy, idolatry, theft, etc.
• Yama and niyama in Hinduism are the prohibition of violence, theft, lies, promiscuity, and greed.
• Eightfold Path of Buddhism

Morality has many aspects; with its help, the entire psycho-emotional sphere is regulated and ordered, from individual decency to international relations.

In addition to ethics, the study of this subject is also carried out by the sociology of morality, which studies the nature of the formation of various value systems in individual social groups and reasons for emerging social conflicts caused by a discrepancy in moral values, as well as possible ways preventing them.

Morality is an essential condition for the existence of society. Its task is to make the life of each individual and society as a whole as good as possible, raising the right people in people. life priorities, values ​​and foundations that turn an individual into a highly moral member of society.

Moral - These are generally accepted ideas about good and evil, right and wrong, bad and good . According to these ideas, there arise moral standards human behavior. A synonym for morality is morality. A separate science deals with the study of morality - ethics.

Morality has its own characteristics.

Signs of morality:

1. The universality of moral norms (that is, they affect everyone equally, regardless of social status).
2. Voluntariness (no one is forced to comply with moral standards, since such people do this moral principles like a conscience public opinion, karma and other personal beliefs).
3. Comprehensiveness (i.e. moral rules act in all spheres of activity - in politics, in creativity, in business, etc.).

Functions of morality.

Philosophers identify five functions of morality:

1. Evaluation function divides actions into good and bad on a good/evil scale.
2. Regulatory function develops rules and moral standards.
3. Educational function is engaged in the formation of a system of moral values.
4. Control function monitors compliance with rules and regulations.
5. Integrating function maintains a state of harmony within the person himself when performing certain actions.

For social science, the first three functions are key, since they play the main social role morality.

Moral standards.

Moral standards Much has been written throughout the history of mankind, but the main ones appear in most religions and teachings.

1. Prudence. This is the ability to be guided by reason, and not by impulse, that is, to think before doing.
2. Abstinence. It concerns not only marital relations, but also food, entertainment and other pleasures. Since ancient times, abundance material assets is considered an obstacle to the development of spiritual values. Our Lent- one of the manifestations of this moral norm.
3. Justice. The principle “don’t dig a hole for someone else, you’ll fall into it yourself,” which is aimed at developing respect for other people.
4. Persistence. The ability to endure failures (as they say, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger).
5. Hard work. Labor has always been encouraged in society, so this norm is natural.
6. Humility. Humility is the ability to stop in time. It is a cousin of prudence, with an emphasis on self-development and introspection.
7. Politeness. Polite people have always been valued, since a bad peace, as you know, is better than a good quarrel; and politeness is the basis of diplomacy.

Principles of morality.

Moral principles - These are moral norms of a more private or specific nature. Principles of morality in different times in different communities were different, and accordingly the understanding of good and evil was different.

For example, the principle of “an eye for an eye” (or the principle of talion) in modern morality far from being held in high esteem. And here " Golden Rule morality” (or Aristotle’s principle of the golden mean) has not changed at all and still remains a moral guide: do to people as you would like to be done to you (in the Bible: “love your neighbor”).

Of all the principles that guide modern teaching about morality, one main thing can be deduced - principle of humanism. It is humanity, compassion, and understanding that can characterize all the other principles and moral norms.

Morality affects all types of human activity and, from the point of view of good and evil, gives an understanding of what principles to follow in politics, in business, in society, in creativity, etc.

"No man is like an island"
(John Donne)

Society consists of many individuals who are similar in many ways, but also extremely different in their aspirations and worldviews, experiences and perceptions of reality. Morality is what unites us, these are those special rules, accepted in the human community and defining a certain general view of categories such as good and evil, right and wrong, good and bad.

Morality is defined as norms of behavior in society that have been formed over many centuries and serve for the correct development of a person in it. The term itself comes from the Latin word mores, which means rules accepted in society.

Moral Traits

Morality, which is largely decisive for the regulation of life in society, has several main features. Thus, its fundamental requirements for all members of society are the same, regardless of position. They operate even in situations that are outside the area of ​​responsibility of legal principles and extend to such areas of life as creativity, science, and production.

Norms of public morality, in other words, traditions, are significant in communication between specific individuals and groups of people, allowing them to “speak the same language.” Legal principles are imposed on society, and failure to comply with them carries with it consequences of varying severity. Traditions and moral norms are voluntary; every member of society agrees to them without coercion.

Types of moral standards

For centuries it has been accepted different kinds. Thus, in primitive society, such a principle as taboo was indisputable. People who were proclaimed as transmitting the will of the gods were strictly regulated as prohibited actions that could threaten the entire society. Violation of them was inevitably followed by the most severe punishment: death or exile, which in most cases was the same thing. The taboo is still preserved in many. Here, as a moral norm, examples are the following: you cannot be on the territory of the temple if the person does not belong to the clergy caste; You cannot have children from your relatives.

Custom

A moral norm is not only generally accepted, as a result of its derivation by some elite, it can also be a custom. It represents a repetitive pattern of actions that is especially important in order to maintain a certain position in society. In Muslim countries, for example, traditions are more revered than other moral norms. Customs based on religious beliefs, V Central Asia can cost lives. For us, more accustomed to European culture, an analogue is legislation. It has the same impact on us as traditional moral standards have on Muslims. Examples in in this case: ban on drinking alcohol, closed clothing for women. For our Slavic-European society, the customs are: to bake pancakes for Maslenitsa, to celebrate New Year with a Christmas tree.

Among moral norms, tradition is also distinguished - a procedure and pattern of behavior that is preserved for a long time, passed on from generation to generation. A kind of traditional moral standards, examples. In this case, these include: celebrating the New Year with a tree and gifts, maybe in a certain place, or going to the bathhouse on New Year’s Eve.

Moral rules

There are also moral rules - those norms of society that a person consciously determines for himself and adheres to this choice, deciding what is acceptable for him. For such a moral norm, examples in this case: give up your seat to pregnant and elderly people, shake hands with a woman when exiting a vehicle, open the door for a woman.

Functions of morality

One of the functions is evaluation. Morality considers events and actions that take place in society from the point of view of their usefulness or danger to further development, and then gives his verdict. Various kinds of reality are assessed in terms of good and evil, creating an environment in which each of its manifestations can be assessed both positively and negatively. With the help of this function, a person can understand his place in the world and form his position.

The regulatory function is no less important. Morality actively influences people's consciousness, often acting better than legal restrictions. From childhood, with the help of education, each member of society develops certain views on what can be done and what cannot be done, and this helps him adjust his behavior in such a way that it is useful for himself and for development in general. Moral norms regulate both the internal views of a person, and therefore his behavior, and the interaction between groups of people, allowing the preservation of the established way of life, stability and culture.

The educational function of morality is expressed in the fact that under its influence a person begins to focus not only on his own needs, but also on the needs of the people around him and society as a whole. The individual develops an awareness of the value of the needs of other participants in society, which, in turn, leads to mutual respect. A person enjoys his freedom as long as it does not violate the freedom of other people. similar in different individuals, help them better understand each other and act harmoniously together, positively influencing the development of each of them.

Morality as a result of evolution

The basic moral principles of any time in the existence of society include the need to do good deeds and not cause harm to people, regardless of what position they occupy, what nationality they belong to, or followers of what religion they are.

The principles of norms and morality become necessary as soon as individuals interact. It was the emergence of society that created them. Biologists who focus on the study of evolution say that in nature there is also a principle of mutual utility, which in human society is realized through morality. All animals that live in society are forced to moderate their egoistic needs in order to be more adapted to later life.

Many scientists consider morality as a result of the social evolution of human society, being the same natural manifestation. They say that many of the principles of norms and morality, which are fundamental, were formed through natural selection, when only those individuals survived who could interact correctly with others. So, as an example they give parental love, which expresses the need to protect the offspring from all external dangers in order to ensure the survival of the species, and the ban on incest, which protects the population from degeneration through the mixing of too similar genes, which leads to the appearance of weak children.

Humanism as a basic principle of morality

Humanism is the fundamental principle of public morality. It refers to the belief that every person has the right to happiness and countless opportunities to realize this right, and that at the core of every society should be the idea that everyone in it has value and is worthy of protection and freedom .

The main one can be expressed in the well-known rule: “treat others the way you want to be treated.” Another person in this principle is seen as deserving the same benefits as any particular person.

Humanism assumes that society must guarantee basic human rights, such as the inviolability of home and correspondence, freedom of religion and choice of place of residence, prohibition forced labor. Society must make efforts to support people who, for one reason or another, are limited in their abilities. The ability to accept such people distinguishes human society, which does not live according to the laws of nature with natural selection, dooming those who are not strong enough to die. Humanism also creates opportunities for human happiness, the pinnacle of which is the realization of one’s knowledge and skills.

Humanism as a source of universal moral norms

Humanism in our time draws society's attention to such universal problems as the proliferation of nuclear weapons, environmental threats, the need for development and a reduction in production levels. He says that the containment of needs and the involvement of everyone in solving problems that face the entire society can only happen through an increase in the level of consciousness and the development of spirituality. It forms universal human moral norms.

Mercy as a basic principle of morality

Mercy is understood as a person’s readiness to help people in need, to sympathize with them, perceiving their suffering as his own and wanting to alleviate their suffering. Many religions pay close attention to this moral principle, especially Buddhism and Christianity. In order for a person to be merciful, it is necessary that he does not divide people into “us” and “strangers”, so that he sees “his own” in everyone.

Currently, great emphasis is placed on the fact that a person should actively help those who need mercy, and it is important that he not only provides practical assistance, but is also ready to support morally.

Equality as a basic principle of morality

From a moral perspective, equality calls for a person's actions to be judged regardless of their social status and prosperity, but from a general point of view, so that the approach to human actions was universal. This kind of state of affairs can only exist in a well-developed society that has reached a certain level in economic and cultural development.

Altruism as a basic principle of morality

This moral principle can be expressed in the phrase “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Altruism assumes that a person is able to do something good for another person for free, that this will not be a favor that must be returned, but a selfless impulse. This moral principle is very important in modern society when life is in big cities alienates people from each other, creates the feeling that caring for one’s neighbor without intent is impossible.

Morality and law

Law and morality are in close contact, since together they form the rules in society, but they have a number of significant differences. Correlation and morality allows us to identify their differences.

The rules of law are documented and developed by the state as mandatory rules, non-compliance with which inevitably entails liability. The categories of legal and illegal are used as an assessment, and this assessment is objective, built on regulatory documents, such as the constitution and various codes.

Moral norms and principles are more flexible and different people may be perceived differently and may also depend on the situation. They exist in society in the form of rules that are passed on from one person to another and are not documented anywhere. Moral norms are quite subjective, assessment is expressed through the concepts of “right” and “wrong”; their failure to comply in some cases cannot lead to more serious consequences than public censure or simply disapproval. For a person, violating moral principles can lead to pangs of conscience.

The relationship between the norms of law and morality can be seen in many cases. Thus, the moral principles “thou shalt not kill”, “thou shalt not steal” correspond to the laws prescribed in the Criminal Code, which state that an attempt on human life and his property results in criminal liability and imprisonment. A conflict of principles is also possible when a legal violation - for example, euthanasia, which is prohibited in our country, which is considered as murder of a person - can be justified by moral convictions - the person himself does not want to live, there is no hope for recovery, the disease causes him unbearable pain.

Thus, the difference between legal and moral norms is expressed only in legislation.

Conclusion

Moral norms were born in society in the process of evolution; their appearance is not accidental. They were needed before to support society and protect it from internal conflicts, and continue to perform this and other functions, developing and progressing along with society. Moral standards have been and will remain an integral element of a civilized society.

And what is strictly prohibited. These rules are not necessarily legally binding. Those who violate them are not always punished by the state and its structures, but may become an outcast in society. In these cases, they say that the person has violated the moral principles accepted in his environment. A striking discrepancy between laws and moral principles is duels, with the help of which the nobility in the past resolved many disputes. Such fights were prohibited by law in many countries, but refusal to duel in the eyes of this class was often an offense much more serious than breaking the law.

The concept of morality was formed in Ancient Greece. Socrates called the science of man morality, as opposed to physics, which dealt with natural phenomena. This is part of philosophy that tries to answer the question about the true purpose of man. This has been tried again. According to the definition of Epicureans and hedonists, the true purpose of human existence is happiness. The Stoics developed their own concept and defined this goal as virtue. Their position was reflected in the views of philosophers more later eras- for example, Kant. The position of his “philosophy of duty” is based on the fact that a person cannot simply be happy, he must earn this happiness.

There are ideal and real moralities, and the second does not always coincide with the first. For example, the basis of Christian morality is the Ten Commandments. Ideally, every Christian should follow them. However, numerous wars, including religious ones, were a clear violation of the prohibition to kill. In each warring country there were other moral standards that were more consistent with the needs of society in a specific way. It was they, in combination with the commandments, that represented the real. Modern philosophers view morality as a way to preserve a particular society. Its task is to reduce conflict. It is primarily considered as a theory of communication.

Everyone's moral principles specific person are formed in the process of education. The child learns them primarily from his parents and other people around him. In some cases, the assimilation of moral norms occurs in the process of adaptation of a person with already established views to another society. Migrants, for example, constantly face this problem.

Along with public morality there is also an individual one. Each person, performing one or another action, finds himself in a situation of choice. It is influenced by a variety of factors. Subordination moral standards can be purely external, when a person performs some action only because it is accepted in his environment and his behavior will arouse sympathy among others. Adam Smith defined this kind of morality as the morality of feeling. But the motivation can also be internal, when good deed causes in the person who committed it a feeling of harmony with himself. This is one of the principles of the morality of inspiration. According to Bergson, an action must be dictated by a person's own nature.

In literary criticism, morality is often understood as the conclusion that follows from the description. For example, morality exists in