Morality is what defines us as individuals. As Ke$ha says, "we are who we are,". Yes, I just quoted Ke$ha.. For an English blog.. Anyway. Morality is the difference between right and wrong; responsibility and maturity -- respect and disrespect. Growing and learning as humans, we gain the knowledge and the maturity level to know what is right, what is wrong, and what is expected of us. Imagine yourself when you were young. Your parents tell you to stop pushing your friends at the playground. As a toddler, you don't understand the concept of why pushing someone will eventually hurt them. As a child, it becomes more clear. Finally, as a "kid" you realize pushing someone is wrong, and helping them up is right -- you learned this by subconsciously knowing respect and responsibility.
We have all heard someone at some point say, "Do the right thing," "You know better than that," "You know what the right thing to do is". But, what is the "right thing"? What do you "know better than" to do? Morality is what you value, and what you were taught was acceptable. Outside influence affects what we think is right or wrong, but in the "long run" it is us who decides that we aren't going to go rob a bank, but instead, stop the burglar. Your conscience, that little voice in your head, or that "devil" on your shoulder, often is the strongest "outside" influence. Your conscience helps you mature and listen to the internal message guiding your morals. Morality is a belief; the belief that you can trust your knowledge, your responsibility, your respect, and your maturity. So you are who you are, but who will you listen to? The voice inside your head, or the devil on your shoulder? .....Or maybe even Ke$ha?
What an intriguing post! I was automatically pulled in by the Ke$ha or as I like to call her "Key-Dollar Sign-Ha) lyric and had to finish reading to find out how you were going to tie it all together! Also- really great question you posed: So you are who you are, but who will you listen to? Who people choose to listen to everyday, literally affects every decision they make and I cannot help but argue that we must choose who we listen to as careful as we choose what we say/do.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post.
- Ms. Sanders (@mssandersths)
Birmingham, AL HS Social Studies Teacher
I agree with Beth. I think the Key$ha quote is very worthy of exploring. So, we are who we are. What do you think about this: A child grows up in a large family, there's never enough to eat. That child has the tendency to steal food from the cafeteria.
ReplyDeleteWe are who we are right?
So, the cafeteria makes an announcement. They'll have to lay off an employee if the theft continues and that worker won't be able to feed her family.
Now, what if that child isn't stealing food for himself? Instead, he's stealing the food to bring home for his baby sister who he knows needs it more than him.
It's true, he is who he is- a product of his environment. But, in that hypothetical, his action is both honorable and dishonorable. The question I have for you is: Who is he listening to?
Absolutely fascinating here is your notion that the conscience is an "outside" influence in the shaping of your morality. I think most people think of the conscience as an internal structure, your inner-morality, even. To put in the sphere of an outside influence is...well, thinking outside the box! Does morality AGE to the point where it matures and stops, then. (Some psychologists, for example, suggests we reach an age of maturation in our critical thinking. Is morality like that? Or do we keep shaping it from birth to death?) Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteKathryn I think this post was really well thought out and I love the way you presented your ideas in the beginning with the Kesha quote; how'd you come up with that? I also really like the end, it's the perfect way to sum up everything you said in your blog.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that we subconciously learn respect. Also, we are definitely defined by our decisions! The outside world has an effect on us immensely; however I like how strongly you emphasized that ‘we are who we are’. We are individuals for a reason; we all have a different mind set. We are all unique in our way of thinking, and the same can be said for our moral sense. Very convincing blog kathryn!
ReplyDeleteI have to echo Mr. Walker's perspective when he addressed your concept that ones conscience is 'outside' of them and guides their internal, developing morals. I always considered conscience and morals to be one in the same. Your point is interesting however, because it opens the door for an explanation as to why people still do bad, immoral or cruel things to others. Possibly that 'external' conscience or voice is sometimes not loud enough to drown out the voice guiding the poor decision.
ReplyDeleteMr. Kulowiec