Comply With Our Values ​​through Moral Obligation

We all have a morality. We know – or we intuit – what is right and what is wrong. However, knowing that something is wrong is not enough for us not to do it. Sometimes the benefits that certain actions can bring us are not derived only from complying with a universal morality. On the contrary, no matter how great the benefits, sometimes we decline to carry out certain actions because of what our morals dictate.

Therefore, we have a moral conviction. That is, some moral standards that we are going to comply with or not. Specifically, we will comply with those that are considered moral obligations. Thus, in the case of values, we can consider that respecting the environment is a moral value, but if we do not have a moral obligation to the environment as a value, we may not respect it on certain occasions.

Moral standards

Moral norms are beliefs highly influenced by culture.  In part, they allude to whether a particular act should or should not be performed. Although they can be differentiated between people, in general, they are more similar between people of the same culture. For example, eating pork is viewed favorably by some religions and frowned upon by others.

In short, we all have beliefs about right and wrong about behaviors. These beliefs lead us to flag specific behaviors as correct or incorrect. But these beliefs may not be shared by other people. As a consequence, when other people carry out these actions, we will consider that they are doing wrong or that they are acting incorrectly.

Moral conviction

Above moral standards is moral conviction. Moral conviction is a metacognitive belief that people may have about a given attitude. This is what we think about beliefs.

In other words, when we think that a belief is right or wrong. A moral conviction can be understood as an especially strong and important moral norm. It can be said that there is a qualitative difference between the moral norm and the moral conviction.

The big difference between the moral norm and moral convictions is that moral norms evaluate whether an action is correct or not and convictions whether a belief is correct or not. Having moral convictions is one degree higher than having moral standards.

That a person has a moral conviction about the environment as a value means that the environment is important for that person, not because taking a certain action on the environment is right or wrong.

Moral obligation

As if we were increasing the degree, the moral obligation would be the highest degree, above the moral norm and moral convictions. Moral obligation is understood as a personal decision to participate in a collective action based on the belief that this is the right thing to do. Moral obligation is also considered a powerful motivational force.

Moral obligations fall within personal codes of conduct. It is about fulfilling oneself, which is why people execute these actions freely no matter what others think. When they perform them, they feel a personal well-being. However, if they do not take action, guilt is triggered.

Components of moral obligation

What differentiates moral conviction from moral obligation is that conviction is a set of beliefs while moral obligation is a motivational trigger that leads to action. That is, moral obligation is the motivation to act in accordance with moral conviction.

Likewise, the moral obligation is composed of a sense of obligation towards the action, autonomy and personal satisfaction, as well as discomfort if the action is not performed and the sacrifice when performing it.

As a whole, taking into account all of the above, it could be concluded that the moral standard is what defines what behavior is correct and what is incorrect, and moral obligation is the motivation felt to comply with that moral standard. In other words, moral norms will be the self-guides of the individual, while moral obligation will be the motivation that he feels to behave accordingly.