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Characteristics of Moral Standards

Presented to:

Mr. Philipp B. Bajada

SIAA Instructor

Presented by:

Maggay, Joana Marie V.

2nd year BS AET

September 6, 2019

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Moral standards involve the rules people have about the kinds of actions they believe are morally right and wrong, as
well as the values they place on the kinds of objects they believe are morally good and morally bad. Some ethicists
equate moral standards with moral values and moral principles.

Specifically, moral standards deal with matters which can either seriously harm or seriously benefit human beings and
other sentient beings. The validity of moral standards comes from the line of reasoning that was taken to back or
support them, and thus are not able to be formed or changes by particular bodies of authority.

Example: murder, gratitude, telling the truth, etc.

* Religious rules, some traditions, and legal statutes (laws and ordinances) are not moral standards

Characteristics of Moral Standards

a) Moral Standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits

Moral standards deal with matters which can seriously impact, that is, injure or benefit human beings and other
sentient beings.

b) Moral Standards take precedence over other standards and considerations, especially self-interests
If a moral standard states that a person has the moral obligation to do something, then they are supposed to do
that even if it conflicts with other non-moral standards and self-interest.

When a particular law becomes seriously immoral, it may be people’s moral duty to exercise civil disobedience.
(Example: Marital Rape and Reparatory Marriage)

c) Moral Standards are not established by authority figure

Moral Standards cannot be changed nor nullified by the decisions of particular authoritative body. One thing
about these standards, nonetheless, is that its validity lies on the soundness or adequacy of the reasons that are
considered to support and justify them.

d) Moral Standards have the trait of universalizability

It means that everyone should live up to moral standards. However, it entails that moral principles
must apply to all who are in the relevantly similar situation. (Example: The Golden Rule)

e) Moral Standards are based on impartial considerations

Moral Standards go beyond personal interests to a universal standpoint, in which each individual’s interests are
impartially counted as equal. Impartiality in morality requires that we give equal and/or adequate consideration
to the interests of all concerned parties.

f) Moral Standards are associated with special emotions and vocabulary

If a person violates a moral standard by telling a lie even to fulfill a special purpose, it is not surprising if he/she
starts feeling guilty or being ashamed of his behavior afterwards.

Sources and References

o https://ourhappyschool.com/node/824
o https://sevenpillarsinstitute.org/glossary/moral-standard/
o https://www.coursehero.com/file/p2mptv9/Five-Characteristics-of-moral-standards-o-deal-with-matters-
we-think-can/
o https://www.slideshare.net/denishvaniyawala/velasquez-c1
o https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-morals.html

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