MORALITY – AN

INTRODUCTION
• Morality has to do with the way we live our
lives.

• Morality helps us to judge the difference

between right and wrong.

• Once we know the difference between the

two, we can do what is right and avoid what is
wrong.
• We are human beings.

• We are able to think about our behaviour in order to

decide what to say and what to do in any given
situation.

• When we encounter moral situations, we can either

act in a way that we know is right, or we can do the
opposite and act in a way that we know to be wrong.
 “A moral person knows the
difference between right and
wrong and chooses to do “An amoral person has no
what is right.” regard for any standards of
“An immoral person knows right or wrong, and just
does what he/she likes.”
the difference between right
and wrong and chooses to do
what is wrong.”
Moral Behaviour can depend
on…
• The Consequences – what will happen if they do it/don’t do it.
• Their Emotions – how will they feel about their decision
afterwards.
• The Situation – the background, what led up to it.
• Laws and Rules – if it is against the law or a rule.
• Authority – if someone orders them, or forces them to do it.
• Common Practice – whether or not everyone is doing it.
• Their Conscience – something that tells them its right or
wrong.
 Questions to consider…
• Think of a character that you have read about in a book, seen
on television, or in a film or video game, who fits the
description:
o A moral person
o An immoral person
o An amoral person

• Explain why you have placed these characters in these

particular categories.
Making Moral Decisions
 What are “VALUES”?
• A value is something that we think is very important and
worthwhile.
• Do any of these values apply to you?
o To be popular.
o To have lots of money.
o To have lots of friends.
o To be respected.
o To get good exam results.
o To have a nice car.
o To be good at sports.
o To be happy and content.
o To have a strong faith.
• Our values affect the way we think, what we say, and how we
behave.

• Our values are not acquired by accident, we get our values

from other people.

• Can you think of any examples of where these values come

from?
Steps in Moral Decision-making…

1. Facts

6. Decision 2. Options
Steps in
Moral
Decision-
making…
5. Prayer 3. Advice

4. Values
• The class organise a school fundraising event for the victims
of a natural disaster. Everyone works hard, and it is a great
success. You and your friends are the principal organisers.
You count and bag the money, and a teacher drives you down
to the bank. The cashier weighs the bags and tells you the
total. There is a shortfall of €25, one bag is missing. You have
your suspicions, although you didn’t actually see anyone take
it. The gift cheque must be presented to the relief organisation
by the end of the week. What do you do?
• A school trip is coming up. Everyone is looking forward to it.
There is a visit to an exhibition and then a stop at a leisure
centre on the way back. The teacher reads out the list of those
who have paid so far. Your name is called out. You know you
haven’t paid. The money is still in your pocket as you brought
it in this morning. What do you do?
• You have seen a pair of football boots in a sale and you really want
them. You have enough money saved, but you were planning to use
some of that to go out at the weekend with your friends. If you buy
the boots you’ll have nothing left. That evening at home you overhear
your mum telling your brother/sister that she has left the money for
the schoolbooks he//she needs in an envelope in their schoolbag and
that they better not lose it. You and your brother/sister do not get on
very well. You think that he/she is a real know-it-all and they always
make fun of your friends. If you took the money, you would have
enough to buy the football boots and go out with your friends at the
weekend. What do you do?
Morality Matters
Families would You could not
not function if the have close friends
parents simply if you lied
ignored their constantly and
children! stole from them!

Society would totally

collapse if people
ignored their duties
towards others.
Can you think of any
examples??
Where does our Morality
come from?
 1. Home and Family
• The home and family play an important part in influencing our
moral outlook.

• Our parents were the first people to teach us the difference

between right and wrong.

• As children we learnt that it is good to share our toys, to

always tell the truth and not hit other children.
 2. Friends and Peers
• As we grow older we begin to be influenced by others outside
the home.

• Going to school, making friends and mixing with other

children our own age meant we encountered different types of
values.

• Therefore it can be said that our friends and peers also play an
important role in influencing our moral outlook.
 3. Religion and Church
• People’s moral outlook is strongly influenced by the religion
in which they have been brought up.

• Many young people go to schools with a religious ethos where

they are educated in their faith.

• Therefore the values they have received at home are reinforced

by the teachings and practices of their religion.
 4. Society and the State
• The State plays an important role in deciding our moral
outlook.

• The State passes the laws of the country.

• Society also plays an important role in influencing our moral

outlook as it can decide what is accepted as good or bad.

• Usually when the majority of society behave in a certain way

then that behaviour can become acceptable.
 5. Emotions
• We can be influenced by our emotions to behave in certain
ways.

• This can have a positive impact on us in situations where we

are moved by sympathy or compassion to help somebody in
need.

• However, emotions can also provide us with negative

outcomes when we are driven by anger or hatred when
responding to certain situations.
Points of View
• Moral issues are not always simply a matter of stating what is
right and what is wrong.

• Morality is about human beings and their relationships.

• We must remember that many factors can influence the way

people behave.