MORAL SPECULATIONS
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Every human desire to lead a moral life. However, the demands of morality are so high, then people believe. Balancing one’s self-interest with competing claims of morality limits the chances of achieving complete righteousness (Keane, 2015). Living a more moral life becomes even more challenging when people stack decks against others. The responsibility to act morally depends on peer modeling, religious values and beliefs, and family and societal values. These factors alter the moral obligations of people.
Peer modeling affects the decision-making process of a person. At a younger age, children make decisions based on the insights of their friends. The trend transcends to adulthood. At the early adolescent stage, peer influence forms an integral role in the way teens perceive right and wrong (Djohari & Hernawati, 2018). The desire to belong to a group of friends shape individual behavior. A positive influence enhances morality, whereas a negative control impedes it.
Religious values and beliefs comprise of specific frameworks regarding personal behavior. These values and beliefs guide adherents in their decision of right and wrong. Religion aligns the mind of believers with perceiving morality as a set of objective truths (Keane, 2015). Religious believers rely on the supreme power that enhances their will to do good all the time. According to underlying ethical values and beliefs, any wrongdoing is perceived as a lack of faith in power.
Family and societal values shape moral obligations, either directly or indirectly. Directly, parents teach their children specific benefits in their livelihood. Different societal setups also have their teachings on what is right and wrong (Brighouse & Swift, 2016). As children grow up, family and society expect them to maintain the standards of right and wrong taught. In such a perspective, their moral obligations depend on those lessons. Indirectly, young people watch how their parents interact with others, make choices, and define right and wrong for themselves. The young people use observations to develop their moral self. The society also has certain cultural norms, attitudes, and practices that shape moral obligations differently.
References
Brighouse, H., & Swift, A. (2016). Family values: The Ethics of Parent-child Relationships. Princeton University Press.
Djohari, Y. W. & Hernawati, N. (2018). The influence of peer group interaction and moral development on school-aged children’s aggressive behavior in weak urban areas. Journal of Child Development Studies, 3(1), 1.
Keane, W. (2015). Making Morality in Religion. Ethical Life, 2(6), 138-145.