Definition Essay: What Is Morality?

Definition essay: What is Morality?

I'll tell you that morality is probably one of the biggest, most confusing things to look at

when you need to write a paper about it. After some deliberation, I have concluded a few

things about morality and what it is.

Morality is one of those words that you don't hear very often, and use even less

frequently. It is perfectly described by Webster's Dictionary as a set of guidelines that govern a

person's actions. Without such a code, anarchy would rule supreme. Human beings are human

because we can limit ourselves and our behaviour. Moral values are a byproduct of a society

that must live together. Even though in Mother Nature the only restricting factor is that of

reproduction and supply of food, because our society groups together, (otherwise it probably

wouldn't be a society), it needs codes of conduct. We have established government, religion

and moral character to regulate this population. All are fairly organized, with moral character

being left entirely to the self, while with government or religion often times another person will

tell you what to do. Without self-limitation, the Jones's across the street would be hell to live

with. They would be insulting, perverse, lying and cheating neighbors. Morality, the set of rules

that limit excessiveness in our behavior, is the foundation of all government, religion. It

moderates our beliefs and laws; describes how one should act.

Moral rules, if you will, include several basic so called 'golden' rules: thou shalt not