Examples of moral norms – Concept, legal norms and more

We explain what moral standards are, with examples. In addition, its differences with legal norms and other types of norms.

What are moral standards?

Moral norms are those with which society regulates itself in matters of a moral nature, that is, They allow us to determine what things are good, just, desirable, and what are not. These are rules of conduct with ethical content, which are promoted and defended by society itself: public opinion, custom, social pressure, etc.

It is important to understand that in matters of morality, the historical and cultural context is decisive. That is, the moral considerations of one society may differ from those of another, or from those that the same society professed in past times. Morality is a social, cultural and historical construction, which has a lot to do with tradition and values ​​of a spiritual and political nature.

See also: Moral values

Examples of moral norms

The following are examples of moral standards:

• We all have exactly the same right to live.
• We must not lie or cheat on others, especially loved ones.
• It is not good to take advantage of a helpless or desperate person.
• Having given our word on a matter, we must fulfill what was promised.
• Must honor our parents and old people.
• With great power you also get great responsibility.
• The mischief it is not at our free disposal.
• It’s not okay to coerce or forcing other people to do something they don’t want to do, for their own benefit.
• Respect for the other it must prevail in social relationships.
• The honesty It is one of the highest values ​​of the human being.
• It’s ok to show compassion for the one who suffers.
• Must help others to lift their cross, but not carry it for them.
• We must not meddle in the love relationships of others.
• It is not okay to treat others as disposable objects.
• Children must be preserved in his innocence as much as possible.
• Selfishness and meanness are flaws that make people ugly.
• Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to the people what belongs to the people.
• The collective welfare it almost always has priority to individual well-being.
• We must treat others how we would like to be treated.
• It is not okay to talk about others behind their backs.
• Must take feelings into account of others.
• The more we have, the more we can to share with the needy.
• Must treat animals with respect, especially to those who feel and suffer like us.
• The greatest commitment of any society must be with the generations to come.
• Indulgences should not be earned with someone else’s scapular.
• Must be honor the memory of the ancestors.
• It is not okay to have sex without it consent express from the other person or with someone who is not in a position to give it.
• We always must give the seat preferential to disabled, elderly or pregnant people.
• A someone else’s secret it should never be disclosed to third parties.
• Parents should always provide what is necessary for their children and take over his guardianship.
• Must show us grateful with those who have done us good and always be willing to give it back.
• The family it must be above all.
• If a bad action is committed, we must excuse us with the affected and repair the damage caused.
• It’s okay be polite with strangers.
• It’s not okay to judge to others before meeting us, regardless of their origin, race, sex or religion.
• Humanity must bond with itself in a way fraternal.
• Freedom it is the supreme value of life.

Moral norms and legal norms

While moral norms and legal norms form the set of rules by which a society regulates itself, these two types of norms differ in their operation and nature. Moral norms, as we saw, respond to social and cultural considerations about good and evil, right and wrong, right and wrong, and society itself proposes and defends them, through social pressure and of tradition itself.

Instead, Legal norms distinguish between what is illegal and what is lawful, that is, what constitutes a crime and what does not, and the State is in charge of enforcing them. This can be summarized as follows:

Other types of standards

In addition to moral and legal norms, there are other types of norms, such as:

• Religious norms, coming from spiritual discourses and that have the function of regulating human behavior based on the divine mandate (the mandates of God). For example, Judaism and Islam prohibit the intake of pork, considering it an impure animal.
• Social or etiquette normsThey are protocols of “polite” or “correct” behavior that facilitate understanding between human beings. For example: the handshake is considered in the West a standard gesture of formal and respectful greeting.
• Grammar rulesAre those rules that govern each language, so that everyone who speaks it is forced to handle a similar set of rules, and there may be understanding. For example, in Spanish the verb must always correspond to the sentence subject.
• House Rules, They are those that a community imposes itself in a given place, in favor of the peaceful cohabitation of people, and that are only valid within said space. For example, in a public swimming pool you have to respect the schedules, use the showers before and after swimming and use the appropriate swimsuit and hat.