CHAPTER 1 TOPIC 2: MORAL vs NON-MORAL STANDARDS

The culture one adheres to, the demography one dwells in, the people he is with, the neighbourhood he
lives in, and numerous other variables have a significant impact on one's values or perspective of
morality. This suggests that due to the things he grew aware of, each person has a unique analogy of
what is right and wrong as well as what is good or evil. What is "good" for one person may not be good
or pleasing for another, and what is "bad" for one person may be morally just for one.

What is moral? What is not moral? How is it moral/not moral? Why?

All words have an open texture or a certain indeterminacy of application. As previously stated, people
have different interpretations of what is good and bad depending on their provenance. The good news is
that many individuals from many backgrounds have agreed upon and have long-standingly followed a
collectively developed set of societal principles that correspond to what is good. This resulted from
humanity's understanding and regard for peace.

Now, morality is said to be the conformity to the established codes and accepted notions of what is good
and right, known as the MORAL STANDARDS. Moral standards, therefore, are the sum of norms and
values which means that they are desirable actions of a human that we should abide by for us to be
morally accepted. Moral standards deal with what is harmful and beneficial for us, to secure our welfare,
for the animals, and for the environment &/or society. Serious harm such as moral injury is the damage
done to one's conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent
acts that transgress one's own moral beliefs, values, or ethical codes of conduct. Benefits may also arise
from compliance with moral standards such as personal integrity and growth, and even peace and order
in society. Some moral standards are taken into consideration whilst drafting laws; in some cases, they
serve as the foundation for the law, which means they take precedence over other values, especially self-
interest. Since it was not established by law, authoritative figures cannot nullify it. They are fair and
reasonable since they are based on fair considerations. The development of moral standards is also
accompanied by a number of sentiments, including guilt and shame, which help our intrinsic selves, or
core, to be as careful as possible in order to avoid doing what is "bad" and instead do what is better or
good. Moral Standards are projected to be universal since it is believed that humans have an inherently
moral character. It is applicable to all, but as mentioned, what is good or bad varies across cultures and
belief systems. In this sense, its application is to be considered by people or communities who are in
relevantly similar beliefs and situations.

Moral standards can be violated through various means, such as fraud, unprofessional conduct, scope-
of-practice violations, being unfit to practice, improper patient record management, violation of state
laws, federal laws, or regulatory rules, and immoral behaviour like lying, cheating, or stealing. These
violations can lead to social sanctions, such as shame or loss of reputation, and individual conscience
disturbance. It is crucial to consider moral standards in ethical decision-making, as they are not always
codified in law but are essential for maintaining a healthy and ethical professional environment.

Non-moral standards, on the other hand, are rules or norms that have nothing to do with morality or
ethical concerns. Rules in games, etiquette guidelines, legal requirements, aesthetic standards, and dress
codes are a few examples. These criteria are only concerns of taste or desire and do not automatically
constitute morality. They may not always be associated with morality or lack ethical awareness. Non-
moral standards have significance as they give us a framework for assessing things like etiquette, fashion,
and art, which may be vital in interpersonal and cultural contexts. The rules of games and other activities
that are unrelated to moral considerations can also be better understood with the aid of non-moral
standards.

Because they are not founded on the same principles, it is of the utmost importance to know the
difference between moral and non-moral standards. It will be easier for us to comprehend and respect
other people's origins and how they carry out their lives in line with their customs and values if we are
aware of the distinction between these two. Understanding helps us make better decisions, and better
decisions help us achieve our goal of establishing universal harmony and security.

Sources:

 Admin. 2023. “Moral Standard versus Non-Moral Standard - PHILO-Notes.” PHILO. April 7.
https://philonotes.com/2022/05/moral-standard-versus-non-moral-standard.
 Van Bavel, Jay J, Dominic J Packer, Ingrid Johnsen Haas, and William A Cunningham. 2023.
“The Importance of Moral Construal: Moral versus Non-Moral Construal Elicits Faster, More
Extreme, Universal Evaluations of the Same Actions.” PloS One. U.S. National Library of
Medicine. Accessed October 13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509100/.
 Quoidbach, Jordi. 2021. “Selective Morality: How Social Context Affects Moral Values.” Esade.
Esade Do Better. June 17. https://dobetter.esade.edu/en/selective-moral-values.