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Philosophy and Culture
Reference:
Maksimova, L. V.
What are the Morals? The Problem of Definition
// Philosophy and Culture.
2012. № 10.
P. 115-126.
URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=61539
Maksimova, L. V. What are the Morals? The Problem of Definition
Abstract:
The main cause of theoretical discussions and disputes about the origin and functions of morals is the difference
in methodological and world perception principles forming the basis of ethical theories. Part of the problem
is also the absence of generally accepted interpretation of the key term, morals. A common definition of the morals
would allow to minimize the dissidences caused by terminology with multiple meanings. It would also allow to considerably
narrow the scope of issues related to ethics. This article contains a critical analysis of approached to defining
morals. The author underlines the following common errors: 1) confusion of the two functionally different use of the
terms ‘morals’ – as a descriptive concept denoting a specific social and psychological phenomenon, and as an estimating
term expressing some kind of a positive attitude to certain motives and behavior; 2) equation of morals and
customs, therefore the variety of customs is interpreted as the variety of ‘morals’; 3) defining morals from the point of
view of ‘higher values’ thus specific moral values are substituted by the others. Moreover, when giving the definition
of morals, many researchers stress out the contents of moral principles and norms while the actually important indicator
of its specific nature is the unique intention or ‘the must’. In those few cases when this intention is recognized
as an essential feature of morals (for instance, in Kant’s works) when it is interpreted as a speculative ‘necessity’ deprived
of the ‘desire material’ and any support in human psyche. The author of the article makes an assumption that
the only way of existence of the moral intention is the feeling of moral duty as a special reality of individual and public consciousness which forms the common empire basis for theoretical (scientific and philosophical) interpretation and,
consequently definition of the moral phenomenon and its special features.
Keywords:
philosophy, morals, ethics, definition, phenomenon, intention, intuition, value, reflection, the must.
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