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Ellen Feig

Professor, Bergen Community College

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Based upon a discussion we are having in the Idea area, I wonder - how do you define morality and why? Where does your definition come from?

I have been working on curriculum for college students that incorporates literature and the notion of being a moral, ethical person; it is clear that I need to step back and first come up with a clearer definition of morality or ethics.

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Topics: College Education Ethical morality
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    Kate Blake 50+

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    Jan 26 2013: Good one Ellen you've made me think.

    Morals to me mean more a personal, cultural subjective idea of good/bad, right/wrong.

    Ethics seems a more generalised societal opinion of good/bad, right/wrong.

    Both are strongly influenced by our values both as individuals and the norms of the society we live within.

    For me personally is boils down to living in harmony as opposed to anything that might harm others.
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      Ellen Feig 500+

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      Jan 26 2013: I agree with you on your definitions but struggle with the subjective nature of morals..if we learn morals from a culture that acts in ways that seem unethical (i.e to society) then how do we ever become ethical beings? I know it this is circular thinking but it is weighing on me as an educator when I see the real lack of concern for others in young people.
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        Kate Blake 50+

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        Jan 26 2013: We learn our morals from many sources, guess 'culture' could mean those around us who we respect and therefore have influence over us. Relatives, neighbours, teachers, heroes .... movie/book characters, there are many sources and having such a varied input hopefully we become wise enough to filter the healthier ones in and query or put aside those that grate?

        I think most of us are fairly ego based, self-focused - it often takes a big aha ah moment to get us thinking a bit more deeply and generating genuine concern for others. There seems to be a very troubled age where there is an excess of experimentation, competition, hormones happening. This is a difficult time and too many struggle to grow out of it ie suicide. And we grow out of it at different ages.

        But somehow when we are confronted with big ones - mortality, a serious illness, etc we begin to define our values/ethics more clearly. We begin to make them more of a priority in our life. Now some manage this at 7 or 8 years, many not until we hit 30 ... meanwhile that self-absorption somehow blocks that real care for others that I believe we all have.

        A book I found intriguing was "Ethics for a New Millennium" by the Dalai Lama, his words seem to resonate with those of all backgrounds it is solid basic stuff we often don't articulate too well.

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