Moral perspectives regarding what constitutes “right” and “wrong” actions lay the groundwork for moral stances. Moral attitudes, surpassing mere moral concepts, hold greater influence.
It’s widely recognized that among various categories of intrinsic values, ethical values hold the highest status. Moral tenets such as goodness, purity, truthfulness, and human humility are esteemed more profoundly than attributes like brilliance, genius, vibrant vitality, natural and artistic beauty, as well as the stability and might of a nation.
There is an ongoing discourse on numerous moral dilemmas, encompassing subjects such as reproductive cloning, surrogate motherhood, abortion, sex selection, pornography, prostitution, dance bars, euthanasia, capital punishment, homosexuality, live-in relationships, incest, divorce, honour killings, consumerism, personal firearm ownership, gambling, prohibition, and more. Within the extensive realm of moral attitude, lies your perspective on these intricate matters.
How Attitudes Are Formed and Modified
Attitudes in individuals develop through various influences, with socialization being a primary factor. An individual’s environment and personal experiences significantly contribute to shaping their attitudes.
For instance, consider a tourist visiting India who has a positive and enriching experience during their stay. This positive experience can lead to a lasting favorable attitude toward India throughout their life, unless significant changes occur.
Additionally, the desire to make an impression or achieve certain goals can also shape an individual’s attitudes. People may adopt attitudes that they believe will help them achieve their objectives or fit into a particular social group.
Furthermore, Aristotle’s idea that humans are social animals plays a role in attitude formation. Individuals often seek a sense of belonging, especially when they are away from their home country. For example, an Indian living in Switzerland might feel isolated due to harsh weather and an indifferent local population. In such cases, they may bond with fellow countrymen and develop a positive opinion of India and its policies.
How Attitudes Can Be Altered
Changing individuals’ attitudes can be a challenging endeavor since people tend to seek information that aligns with their existing belief systems. Attitudes are typically formed over years through various experiences and are resistant to change.
For instance, consider a young Kashmiri who has faced discrimination and mistreatment in Delhi, particularly in housing matters, and has had negative interactions with the local population and law enforcement. It is improbable that this individual will easily change their attitude toward Delhi, even after many years of living there.
The term ‘other’ pertains to the marginalized, vulnerable, and minority segments of society. This editorial delves into the importance of how we should treat the ‘other.’ It emphasizes the need to grant them a platform, to truly hear their voice, rather than exerting dominance. It’s about embracing them as equals, extending a hand of brotherhood, and showing empathy. According to Gandhi, all of this embodies morality and ethics.
Traits of moral attitude
1. Awareness of Responsibility
2. Reverence
3. Faithfulness
4. Goodness
5. Veracity
Awareness of Responsibility
This process of moral awakening is closely intertwined with feelings of deep respect and genuine commitment, qualities we refer to as constancy. These qualities truly come to life within someone who is attuned to their moral compass. This awakening also lies at the heart of what we call “awareness of responsibility,” a crucial moral perspective. This kind of awareness is only found in those who feel a strong sense of responsibility, enabling them to truly understand the impact of the values they hold dear.
Imagine a person who possesses a heightened sensitivity to ethical values. This sensitivity acts like a sword of justice, guiding their choices and reminding them of their role and duties within the larger universe. They realize that they’re not the sole rulers of their actions. They understand they can’t just act on whims because they’re not the ultimate judges of their own deeds.
On the other hand, think of someone who is careless and thoughtless, someone who doesn’t pay much attention to the effects of their actions. The most extreme version of this type is someone who doesn’t consider ethical values at all and only seeks personal satisfaction.
Then there’s the individual driven by their desires, completely disregarding ethical values and viewing the world as a tool for their own pleasure. This is the same type of person we mentioned earlier who lacks a sense of reverence.
Now, let’s consider someone who is morally unaware. They recognize the existence of ethical values, are sometimes influenced by them, and might even act in alignment with them occasionally. However, they lack a complete understanding because they don’t have a conscious awareness of their actions in relation to these values.
Reverence
The key to understanding a person’s moral principles lies in their ability to hold onto these beliefs, stand by them, and respond to them. These traits are most apparent in individuals who possess a sense of reverence.
Reverence is a feeling or attitude of deep respect for others, often accompanied by a sense of wonder. It’s like the starting point of our moral journey because it’s through reverence that we begin to relate to the world in a way that lets us assess things spiritually and appreciate their value.
Reverence is like the foundation that enables us to truly understand important concepts, especially when it comes to grasping the significance of values. Every reaction we have to something valuable, every time we willingly let go of something precious, all of it is rooted in reverence. It’s like the core element that makes these responses possible, and it’s a vital part of how we interact with these situations.
Faithfulness
The more steadfast and unwavering a person is, the more substantial their character becomes, and the more equipped they are to carry and reflect moral values. They become a vessel through which qualities like purity, justice, humility, love, and goodness shine and spread to those around them.
In simple terms, this consistency is a core moral attitude. It’s a natural outcome of truly understanding the essence of values and an integral part of every genuine response to those values, forming the very essence of a moral life.
It’s only the person who remains consistent in their beliefs who can genuinely grasp the intricacies of the world of values and respond to them. In human relationships, the immense significance of faithfulness becomes especially evident. (Here, faithfulness means loyalty in its broad sense.) Think about it, what’s love without loyalty? It ends up being nothing but a facade.
Some people might see loyalty as just a formal virtue or a mere social norm. They could think that someone who’s accomplished and free-spirited is beyond such concerns.
Goodness
What does it truly mean to be good? When we say someone radiates goodness, we’re describing a person who readily offers help, who shows kindness and fairness, who’s willing to put others before themselves, who forgives wrongdoings, who’s generous, and who embodies selflessness and tenderness.
All these qualities are different forms of love in action. This highlights the strong connection between love and goodness. Think of love as a flowing river of goodness, and goodness as the very breath of love.
Being good goes beyond having benevolent intentions towards only a specific person you care about. When we label someone as good, we’re acknowledging their consistent open-heartedness. Their attitude towards everyone is one of kindness and generosity. Goodness is a foundational stance, an intrinsic position, not just a fleeting emotion like other virtues.
While other fundamental attitudes like respect, loyalty, awareness of responsibilities, and truthfulness respond to the world of values as a whole, goodness not only responds to this world of values but also mirrors it within the person.
Veracity
Dependability is another crucial aspect of a person’s moral character. Someone who is dishonest not only reveals a serious moral flaw but also faces damaging consequences that impact their overall personality, moral life, and their ability to uphold moral values.
A person who lacks honesty doesn’t hold values in high esteem. They assume a dominant stance over situations and manipulate them as they see fit. This demeanor conveys arrogance, contempt, and a lack of respect. An untrustworthy individual shows little regard for values. They adopt a superior attitude towards life and handle it without much consideration, which exudes an air of overconfidence, disrespect, and a dismissive attitude.
Furthermore, a liar tends to view the world as a tool to achieve their own objectives to some extent. Everything around them is merely an instrument for their use. If they can’t benefit from it, they might simply ignore its existence.
