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INTRODUCTION
What does it mean to “develop a moral code and purpose”?
A moral is a differentiation of intentions or actions between good (or right) and bad (or wrong). A moral code refers to a list of one’s ideal morals, prioritized. The development of said list allows one to better understand oneself and commit to one’s decisions beforehand. Then we create purpose, taking life as a whole and choosing to pursue ends we deem intrinsically valuable, not merely something we desire by whim. Purpose is the ends, and moral code regulates the means and creates focus towards those ends.
Why should I develop a moral code and purpose?
1) We cannot live by naturally-occurring moral code.
Nobody is born with morals or beliefs, only basal needs and inclinations. Growing up, our environments (situations, peers, family, society, institutions) inundate us with ideas and experiences, and we react to them, molding our character. Our beliefs and actions might be based off flawed rationalizations or habits from our environment or self-nature. To master ourselves instead of being developed by circumstance, we must be open-minded of all our rationalizations, habits, beliefs, and actions, questioning and changing them as necessary. If we do not, we accept mediocrity.
2) We cannot live by unquestioned moral code of others.
No matter how good it feels to defer or ignore our responsibility for morality, we are ultimately responsible. If we follow another’s moral code blindly, we may be accepting immoralities within the moral code, making misconceptions leading to immoralities, or filling gaps with our own rationalized immoralities. Misconceptions of another’s moral code occur because human judgment is undefinable and no two situations are the same. In addition, we may lose the ability to think for ourselves if our admiration for a person or prescribed system turns into blind faith.
3) Moral code and purpose: We cannot have one without the other.
Without moral code, not only can our purpose easily be immoral, but we also compromise our humanity with immoral actions. With moral code and no purpose, one is not expressing and relieving the burden of the moral code, leading to loneliness, anguish, and feeling empty/worthless. We need purpose to bring meaning to our lives and to fulfill ourselves with action.
Summary: By consciously developing one’s moral code, we build up the importance, habit, and skill of aligning our everyday decisions with our beliefs closest to our hearts. Furthermore, moral code development helps us find both our true self and our purpose (meaning) in life, which helps clarify the paths of action to take.
research on how morals develop
Note about this Course
I do not look down upon any belief system (religion or philosophy). Some people base their moral code around one belief system, while others, like myself, choose to learn about many belief systems and develop morals from there. This guide can assist both methods, at least in helping clarify morals by tackling them in a new light. This guide can also help those without strong morals, whom I believe do not actively choose apathy but have only not found themselves.
I do, however, look down on stagnation of morality. If we stop questioning the drives behind and consequences of our decisions, we may find ourselves forsaking morals and ultimately our true selves, as we are driven by such things as desire or authority. Morality development should be a continuous deliberation throughout one’s life.
“The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” — Charles Dubois