rorality consists in the right behavior in dealings with other human beings. There cannot be absolute determinants of what is the right behavior. For instance, taking the life Of another person is a crime; killing an enemy in war is a brave and honorable deed. In both the cases a human life is lost, but the man involved in taking the life is viewed very differently by the society. The law and the custom of the society inflict death sentence or life imprisonment on the one killer and honor the other with an award.
The soldier kills the enemy in war todefend his country and wins the approbation of his countrymen. Moreover, he has no personal score to settle with the soldier of the enemy country. It is evident, therefore, that no act in itself can be called good or bad. It is the intention behind the act or the value system of the society, which determines the goodness or badness of an act. Morality of an act is determined with reference to the society as also with reference to the motive of the actor.
Society prescribes general standards of conduct in important life situations, not specific conduct in the myriad situations a man deals with in his life. Man has, therefore, to depend on some readily available yardsticks to determine whether his response to a situation is the right one or not. Most people would take a course of action, which promotes their self-interest without antagonizing the others, involved in the situation. Nobody would take it amiss if a man serves his interest without impinging on other people's shoes or harming others. But how is one to determine one's course of action when a situation involves a conflict of interest/between various parties. Is it reasonable to expect a man to forgo his self-interest and al low the other party to take the advantage? Most people will continue to be guided by self-interest in the course of their life.
Morality is conventionally linked with religion. Most religions have some Commandments or some prescriptions for conduct in the form of Do's and Dont's. These religious prescriptions are backed by fear of punishment in this life or the life after death. Thus the nightmares of torture in hell are impressed upon the individuals if they steal or blaspheme. Threat of punishment is also used to force people to do their duties. This type of morality, which speaks of rewards and punishment only, promotes
