Moral Vs Non-Moral Standards

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Moral versus Non-moral Standards
Moral Standards versus Non-moral Ones

Why the need to distinguish moral standards from non-moral ones?
It is important to note that different societies have different moral beliefs and that our beliefs are
deeply influenced by our own culture and context. For this reason, some values do have moral
implications, while others don’t. Let us consider, for example, the wearing of hijab. For sure, in
traditional Muslim communities, the wearing of hijab is the most appropriate act that women have
to do in terms of dressing up. In fact, for some Muslims, showing parts of the woman’s body,
such as the face and legs, is despicable. However, in many parts of the world, especially in
Western societies, most people don’t mind if women barely cover their bodies. As a matter of
fact, the Hollywood canon of beauty glorifies a sexy and slim body and the wearing of extremely
daring dress. The point here is that people in the West may have pitied the Muslim women who
wear hijab, while some Muslims may find women who dress up daringly despicable.
Again, this clearly shows that different cultures have different moral standards. What is a matter
of moral indifference, that is, a matter of taste (hence, non-moral value) in one culture may be a
matter of moral significance in another.
Now, the danger here is that one culture may impose its own cultural standard on others, which
may result in a clash in cultural values and beliefs. When this happens, as we may already know,
violence and crime may ensue, such as religious violence and ethnic cleansing.
How can we address this cultural conundrum?
This is where the importance of understanding the difference between moral standards (that is,
of what is a moral issue) and non-moral ones (that is, of what is a non-moral issue―thus, a
matter of taste) comes in. This issue may be too obvious and insignificant for some people, but
understanding the difference between the two may have far-reaching implications. For one, once
we have distinguished moral standards from non-moral ones, of course, through the aid of the
principles and theories in ethics, we will be able to identify fundamental ethical values that may
guide our actions. Indeed, once we know that particular values and beliefs are non-moral, we will
be able to avoid running the risk of falling into the pit of cultural reductionism (that is, taking
complex cultural issues as simple and homogenous ones) and the unnecessary imposition of
one’s own cultural standard on others. The point here is that if such standards are non-moral
(that is, a matter of taste), then we don’t have the right to impose them on others. But if such
standards are moral ones, such as not killing or harming people, then we may have the right to
force others to act accordingly. In this way, we may be able to find a common moral ground, such
as agreeing not to steal, lie, cheat, kill, harm, and deceive our fellow human beings.
Now, what are moral standards, and how do they differ from non-moral ones?
Moral Standards and their Characteristics
Moral standards are norms that individuals or groups have about the kinds of actions believed to
be morally right or wrong, as well as the values placed on what we believed to be morally good
or morally bad. Moral standards normally promote “the good”, that is, the welfare and well-being
of humans as well as animals and the environment. Moral standards, therefore, prescribe what
humans ought to do in terms of rights and obligations.
According to some scholars, moral standards are the sum of combined norms and values. In
other words, norms plus values equal moral standards. On the one hand, norms are understood
as general rules about our actions or behaviors. For example, we may say “We are always under
the obligation to fulfill our promises” or “It is always believed that killing innocent people is
absolutely wrong”. On the other hand, values are understood as enduring beliefs or statements
about what is good and desirable or not. For example, we may say “Helping the poor is good” or
“Cheating during exams is bad”.
According to many scholars, moral standards have the following characteristics, namely: 1) moral
standards deal with matters we think can seriously injure or benefit humans, animals, and the
environment, such as child abuse, rape, and murder; 2) moral standards are not established or
changed by the decisions of authoritative individuals or bodies. Indeed, moral standards rest on
the adequacy of the reasons that are taken to support and justify them. For sure, we don’t need a
law to back up our moral conviction that killing innocent people is absolutely wrong; 3) moral
standards are overriding, that is, they take precedence over other standards and considerations,
especially of self-interest; 4) moral standards are based on impartial considerations. Hence,
moral standards are fair and just; and 5) moral standards are associated with special emotions
(such as guilt and shame) and vocabulary (such as right, wrong, good, and bad).
Non-moral Standards
Non-moral standards refer to standards by which we judge what is good or bad and right or
wrong in a non-moral way. Examples of non-moral standards are standards of etiquette by which
we judge manners as good or bad, standards we call the law by which we judge something as
legal or illegal, and standards of aesthetics by which we judge art as good or rubbish. Hence, we
should not confuse morality with etiquette, law, aesthetics or even with religion.
As we can see, non-moral standards are matters of taste or preference. Hence, a scrupulous
observance of these types of standards does not make one a moral person. Violation of said
standards also does not pose any threat to human well-being.
Finally, as a way of distinguishing moral standards from non-moral ones, if a moral standard says
“Do not harm innocent people” or “Don’t steal”, a non-moral standard says “Don’t text while
driving” or “Don’t talk while the mouth is full”.

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https://philonotes.com/index.

Moral versus Non-moral Standards

Moral Standards versus Non-moral Ones

How can we address this cultural conundrum?

Moral Standards and their Characteristics

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