Catherine Tran Professor Huffstutter English 101 25 October 2013 Short Argument Cultivated Moralities In todays day and

age, there is no question that people disagree with each other. Whether its an opinion on a new film or thoughts on how the government is currently functioning, individuals usually have set guidelines that distinguish whether or not they agree with one another. What establishes a specific mindset in people? By what standards are people wrong or right? Although one may argue a moral code is set within each person, the environment in which one develops his/her ethics in plays a much greater role in their morality. From ones government or religion to their social environment, a behavior is learned from the ideas presented through their surroundings.

Religions relevance in moral behavior is crucial when looking at the rules one must abide by to achieve harmony with ones deity during an afterlife. Iris Murdoch discusses ethics in the context of virtue, which is [the] most evident bridge between morality and religion (363). However, she points out that virtue cannot be applied to everyone because its meaning is relative. Does the relativity of virtue apply in a religious context? Murdoch states that religious belief may be a stronger motive to good conduct than non-

religious idealism (365). Although many individuals moralities are stemmed from sources that are not affiliated with specific religions, many ideals in which people abide by today can be associated with religiously historical writings, such as the Bible. This text has historically guided a community of believers to a standard of morality and behavior. Since the authors of the Bible lived within a society very different from todays setting, it is often understood that the texts can be interpreted, rather than simply read in its original form. For example, homosexuality is discussed in the Bible; but whether it is moral or not depends on how readers interpret the text and apply it to a modern setting. The standards of morality may be set through religious principles, but since ideas may come from a source in which individuals are able to understand it differently, the sense of ethics in which one attains occurs as a result of their religious environment.

Governments vital role in citizens lives is also central to the standards of morality within a society. The structure of government varies from religion since the rules are not up to interpretation and the consequences of breaking the law is much more immediate. In the United States, laws are made in the best interest of citizens safety and their pursuit of happiness. According to Natalia Letki, an individuals civic morality is rooted in the general belief that others are trustworthy, and this belief is closely linked to the experience of interactions with fellow citizens (308). How individuals abide by the governments laws

not only is dependent on the consequences that may follow, but by the social environment in which they reside within. Letki believes that positive civic morality comes from the trust that forms from people engaging with other moral citizens. This civic standard is not only set by the government itself, but by those governed as well.

Where and when a person lives also contributes to how their morality is formed. A man living in France during the fifth century will obviously not share the same ideas of ethics with an American woman today. In addition to the complexities of moral development over time, there is also the added dimension of moral being in the moment ones embodiment of ones moral being in this context at this time (Sherblom 118). The standard in which behavior is acceptable or unacceptable has progressed over a period of time. Compared to todays principles, it is unclear to how one would understand what is moral among a spectrum of moralities. Are moral traits learned from previous generations? Or does the current flow of ethics influence how we act? Throughout history, it would seem that people were much closer with the traditional values that rooted from their families ideals. However, it is now within our American culture to think and act progressively. The standards by which we abide by now have developed not only individually, but communally as well.

It is crucial for a community to set values, laws and rules in which individuals can function as a whole. Although not all moralities are equal, it is necessary to have ideal guidelines in order to set the standard in which individuals can distinguish right from wrong, while also having the freedom to understand their choices. People develop their sense of ethics from the environment in which they are within. From their religious sources of ethics to how the government governs, how individuals choose to act reflect the society they come from.

Works Cited Letki, Natalia. "Investigating the Roots of Civic Morality: Trust, Social Capital, and Institutional Performance." Political Behavior 28.4 (2006): 305-25. JSTOR. Springer. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/4500227>. Murdoch, Iris. "Morality and Religion." A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. ed. 9. 258-73. Print. Sherblom, Stephen A. "What Develops In Moral Development? A Model Of Moral Sensibility." Journal Of Moral Education 41.1 (2012): 117-142. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.