by April J.

Created on: September 08, 2008

Morality is one of the most complex concepts in human psychology and, as individuals, our beliefs surrounding it drive our every decision - be it physical, financial, mental, emotional or political. We each differ greatly in our morals including what they are and from where we believe they are derived. Some find their morals in holy books or the words of preachers, others in the law and government, some in the effects of their actions, while others in their own logic and reason.

Most of us believe that morality is good, however our reasons for believing this vary greatly depending on where we believe our morals come from. So if morality pays, why does it pay and just where is the payoff to be found? This article will look at some of the varied answers to that question, from the points of view of different people with different sources of morality.

THE PRAGMATIST

Pragmatists are people who are "practical" and who tend to make decisions based in large part on the effects of those actions upon themselves and/or upon others. In philosophy this view is known as "utilitarian ethics" and its moral goal is to maximize happiness and minimize harm. For example, a pragmatist may believe that is wrong to invade another country because the resulting war leads to the death and suffering of innocents, or that stealing is wrong because it impacts the livelihood of the victim, or that lying is wrong because an honest, trustworthy person will gain more friends and be more well-liked.

For a pragmatist, morality pays because it increases the overall happiness for themselves and/or for others. The pragmatist is fully aware that treating others properly leads they themselves to be rewarded by a good reputation, friends who trust them, and increased job opportunities, and these tangible rewards are their payoff and a major reason for their moral choices.

THE LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN

Some people base their individual moral choices on the laws of their particular country and the norms of their culture. They may base their choices on what is legal versus illegal and what the majority of people in their culture believe to be acceptable behavior. Individuals who use laws and norms as their basis for morality may answer the question of "why is it wrong to be addicted to drugs?" with an answer such as "because doing drugs is illegal" or may avoid behaviors that go against their society's norms. For example, a North American may choose not to eat a dish that contains insects because the majority in

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