Topic > My Moral Code vs. Moral Theory - 795

Every human being carries a moral code of some kind. For some people it is a way of life and they consult their code before making any moral decisions. However, for many their personal moral code is undefined or unclear. Perhaps these people have a code of their own that they abide by, but fail to recognize that it exists. What I hope to discover with this article is my moral theory and how I apply it in my daily life. What you do and what you want to do are often not compatible. Doing what you want usually brings immediate happiness, but may not bring long-term benefits. On the other hand, doing what you should do can cause immediate unhappiness, even if it is good for you. The point of morality is to do the right thing just for the sake of doing it. In my first article I didn't know what moral theories were; Now that I know, I can say that these moral theories agree with my moral code. These theories are utilitarianism, natural law theory and Kantianism. Natural law theory is the moral theory that states that all human actions must conform to natural law. For example, I do not harm any human being because it is not my right to take someone's life, only God has this right. Another example, when I drive near a school zone, I make sure to drive at a low speed because I don't want to hit kids. I sometimes use the doctrine of double effect when I have to choose between two issues. The doctrine of double effect states that if an action has two effects, one good and one bad, one should only do it if only the good effect is intended, the good effect outweighs the bad effect and is equally likely to occur and only if there is no way to get… to the middle of the paper… and also towards the well-being of all human beings in general. There is no one to watch over me or judge my moral code. However, I simply feel responsible for my actions; a moral code should always be in my conscience and tells me how to act in all situations. One thing to remember about these theories is that they are about the greater good. Utilitarians do not care about a person's personal life or whether their actions may hurt some people. As long as the results of a person's actions bring more pleasure than pain, you are safe. For me, being a good person means doing good and making good decisions. Human beings should not be seen as a means to an end, but as an end in themselves. Utilitarianism believes that human beings should be treated with respect, but respect must take into account the everyday situations in which a person lives.