Ethics and Morality

Morality is defined as “a concern with the distinction between right and wrong; good and evil, right or good conduct”. Everyone will agree to that definition, because this is what morality actually is. I personally think that it can also be defined as the “motivation based on ideas of right and wrong”, or “the beliefs about what is right and wrong”. However, Ethics means, “The moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior.

As far as I think Religion plays a hegemonic role in building the moral and ethical values. It could even be said that religious morality is greatly influenced by secular morals and not the other way around. While it would be difficult to assess the genealogy of morality it would be safe to say that morality has a very strong connection with religious morality. Moreover, to evade the omnipresent influence of religious morality would be nearly impossible; this allows for the almost constant melding of the two making them almost indistinguishable. Morality is the quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct.

Religion at its best can be a community of caring, where everyone looks out for their fellow, and all share in the beauty and friendship of each other’s lives. At its worst, religion is rigidly dogmatic, intolerant, and resistant to change. Atheism at its best can be human beings engaged in passionate inquiry, brazen discovery, and fearless exploration of the wonders of the world. At its worst it can be individuals hopelessly depressed, paralyzed by the utter insignificance and meaninglessness of their godless lives.

One of the most dearly-held religious views is that without religion, we would not have objective morality; all morality would be merely subjective. One may not think killing and stealing are a good idea, but without a higher power endorsing and immortalizing this code of morality, how can it be binding? However, Plato dealt this absolute view of morality a decisive blow 2400 years ago...