Below I'll describe the subject of morals as it is used when speaking common English, without concern for published works on the subject, which often don't correspond to the subject's common usage, and often confuse the subject rather than simplify.
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Morals are a type of rule. To speak of rules in general, there are what I call true rules and false rules.
-An example of a true rule is that if one jumps in the air one will fall.
-An example of a false rule is that if one jumps in the air one will fly.
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Among both true and false rules, there are rules which either have a neutral, positive or negative effect.
A rule with a neutral effect (or we may simply say; a neutral rule) is in the form of: If action x takes place, then positive effect y will follow. Rules of science, when not in a context that one may personalize, are neutral rules.
-A positive rule is in the form of: If action x takes place, then positive effect y will follow.
-A negative rule is in the form of: If action x takes place, then negative effect y will follow.
Here's an example of what is essentially the same rule, but the first in positive form and the second in negative:
-If one spends all his time on the job productively, then he'll continue being employed.
-If one wastes time on the job, then he'll be fired.
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Morals are most often used in the form of a negative rule. For example the line directly below is more commonly used than the other:
-If one lies, then negative effect y will take place.
-If one always tells the truth, then positive effect y will take place.
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-Rules considered laws or codes of conduct are often, but not always, considered morals.
-Rules involving commandments or other religious guidelines are almost always considered morals or something related.
-Morals are often rules that are not clearly written in an established text if at all, whose actions and effects are both very vague.
-Possibly the majority of morals are false, meaning their consequences are unreal such as a magical karma or Hell, or have vague consequences such as potential guilt.
-Social ostracization is a common consequence of breaking morals, but is a consequence that's often very inconsistently applied.
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There's no difference between the term morality and the term morals. For example if one says, "Let's discuss morality", he may as well say, "Let's discuss morals".
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To ask if a particular action is immoral, is usually the same asking if there is a negative rule associated with the type of rules under the category of morals, concerning that action.
For example, if one asks if doing action x is immoral, he usually wishes ask if there's a moral in the form of: If action x takes place, then positive effect y will follow.
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While the terms "moral" and "ethic" (and their equivalent form as adjectives) often have situations where one is more commonly used than the other, but often the terms are essentially interchangeable.
An example of when they're interchangeable would be in the question, "Is it(unethical/immoral) to lie?"
An example of when they wouldn't be entirely interchangeable would be if one used the adjective "moral" rather than "ethical" if one were to ask a doctor something such as if it's ethical to release a patience files. Here, while the terms could be interchangeable at times, at others what one would essentially be only asking is if the doctor could get into trouble with a medical board or the law for releasing the files.
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I'd like to know if others agree or disagree that the above description of the subject of morals is accurate, not pertaining to published works on the subject, but to how the subject is most often spoken of when using common English.
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Morals are a type of rule. To speak of rules in general, there are what I call true rules and false rules.
-An example of a true rule is that if one jumps in the air one will fall.
-An example of a false rule is that if one jumps in the air one will fly.
----------
Among both true and false rules, there are rules which either have a neutral, positive or negative effect.
A rule with a neutral effect (or we may simply say; a neutral rule) is in the form of: If action x takes place, then positive effect y will follow. Rules of science, when not in a context that one may personalize, are neutral rules.
-A positive rule is in the form of: If action x takes place, then positive effect y will follow.
-A negative rule is in the form of: If action x takes place, then negative effect y will follow.
Here's an example of what is essentially the same rule, but the first in positive form and the second in negative:
-If one spends all his time on the job productively, then he'll continue being employed.
-If one wastes time on the job, then he'll be fired.
----------
Morals are most often used in the form of a negative rule. For example the line directly below is more commonly used than the other:
-If one lies, then negative effect y will take place.
-If one always tells the truth, then positive effect y will take place.
----------
-Rules considered laws or codes of conduct are often, but not always, considered morals.
-Rules involving commandments or other religious guidelines are almost always considered morals or something related.
-Morals are often rules that are not clearly written in an established text if at all, whose actions and effects are both very vague.
-Possibly the majority of morals are false, meaning their consequences are unreal such as a magical karma or Hell, or have vague consequences such as potential guilt.
-Social ostracization is a common consequence of breaking morals, but is a consequence that's often very inconsistently applied.
----------
There's no difference between the term morality and the term morals. For example if one says, "Let's discuss morality", he may as well say, "Let's discuss morals".
-----------
To ask if a particular action is immoral, is usually the same asking if there is a negative rule associated with the type of rules under the category of morals, concerning that action.
For example, if one asks if doing action x is immoral, he usually wishes ask if there's a moral in the form of: If action x takes place, then positive effect y will follow.
----------
While the terms "moral" and "ethic" (and their equivalent form as adjectives) often have situations where one is more commonly used than the other, but often the terms are essentially interchangeable.
An example of when they're interchangeable would be in the question, "Is it(unethical/immoral) to lie?"
An example of when they wouldn't be entirely interchangeable would be if one used the adjective "moral" rather than "ethical" if one were to ask a doctor something such as if it's ethical to release a patience files. Here, while the terms could be interchangeable at times, at others what one would essentially be only asking is if the doctor could get into trouble with a medical board or the law for releasing the files.
----------
I'd like to know if others agree or disagree that the above description of the subject of morals is accurate, not pertaining to published works on the subject, but to how the subject is most often spoken of when using common English.