Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

What Is Morality?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Theory of Moral Capital

  • 202 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter defines morality, and discusses how morality essentially improves man and harmonizes human relationships. In addition, while elaborating moral implications, it lists the functions and objectives of morality in scientific terms or required by the times in promoting social and economic development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Zhou (1986), Luo (1989), Li (1989), Xia (1991), Tang and Long (1993), Yang (2002), Gao (2005), Xu (2006), Wan (2009), Song (2012).

  2. 2.

    Wang (2004, 2009).

  3. 3.

    Song (2012, p. 465).

  4. 4.

    “Ought”, “should” and “must” basically convey the same meaning when they are involved in the application of theory of ethics. The difference is that “ought” emphasizes more on reasonable certainty and necessity which are exactly the inherent characteristics of morality. Therefore, I prefer to use “ought” to express morality-related opinions and ideas.

  5. 5.

    Song (2010, pp. 217–218).

  6. 6.

    Song (2010, pp. 326–328).

  7. 7.

    According to Hegel, “freedom” refers to the “freedom of abstract free will in the ordinary sense”, “individual freedom only related to himself or herself”, or freedom not subject to any “regulation” of “a person in himself or herself”. This is Hegel’s abstract interpretation to morality; however, man lives in reality, which means his proposal of “natural existence” is something impossible. Actually, Hegel’s ideas about man and personality can exactly prove it.

  8. 8.

    Hegel (1961, pp. 44–49, 110–117, 164–174).

  9. 9.

    Hegel (1961, p. 128).

  10. 10.

    Mencius · Dedication (II).

  11. 11.

    The Analects of Confucius · Yong Ye.

  12. 12.

    The Analects of Confucius · Yan Yuan.

  13. 13.

    Marx and Engels (2009a, p. 603).

  14. 14.

    Marx and Engels (2009b, p. 387).

  15. 15.

    Marx and Engels (2009b, p. 99).

  16. 16.

    Hegel (1961, pp. 47–48).

  17. 17.

    Hegel (1961, p. 48).

  18. 18.

    Marx and Engels (2009a, p. 46).

  19. 19.

    Marx and Engels (1960).

  20. 20.

    Marx and Engels (1957).

  21. 21.

    Marx and Engels (1957).

  22. 22.

    Marx and Engels (2009a, p. 505).

  23. 23.

    Marx and Engels (2009a, p. 571).

  24. 24.

    Marx and Engels (1979).

  25. 25.

    Marx and Engels (2009a, p. 571).

  26. 26.

    Xi (2014).

  27. 27.

    Aristotle (1990).

  28. 28.

    Zhuzi’s Language Category. Vol. 9.

  29. 29.

    Smith (1997).

  30. 30.

    MacIntyre (2003).

  31. 31.

    Li (2010, p. 39).

  32. 32.

    Li (2010, p. 40).

References

  • Aristotle. 1990. The Nicomachean Ethics, 30. Translated by Litian Miao. Beijing: China Social Sciences Publishing House [Greek].

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao, Guoxi. 2005. Moral Philosophy. Shanghai: Fudan University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich. 1961. Elements of the Philosophy of Right. Translated by Yang Fan and Qitai Zhang. Beijing: Commercial Press [Germany].

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Qi (ed.). 1989. The Theory of Morality. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Yining. 2010. Beyond Market and Government: Influence of Moral Factors on Economy. Beijing: Economic Science Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo, Guojie (ed.). 1989. Ethics. Beijing: People’s Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacIntyre, Alasdair Chalmers. 2003. After Virtue: A Study of Moral Theory, 233. Translated by Jijie Song. Nanjing: Yilin Press [U.S.].

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. 1957. Collected Works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, vol. 2, 626. Beijing: People’s Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. 1960. Collected Works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, vol. 3, 516. Beijing: People’s Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. 1979. Collected Works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, vol. 42, 24. Beijing: People’s Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. 2009a. Collected Works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, vol. 1. Beijing: People’s Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. 2009b. Collected Works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, vol. 9. Beijing: People’s Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, Adam. 1997. The Theory of Moral Sentiments, 399. Translated by Ziqiang Jiang et al. Beijing: Commercial Press [U.K.].

    Google Scholar 

  • Song, Xiren (ed.). 2010. The History of Western Ethic Thoughts. Beijing: People’s Publishing House. Version 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Song, Xiren. 2012. Research on the Moral Philosophy of Marx and Engels. Beijing: China Social Sciences Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, Kailin, and Xinghai Long. 1993. On Individual Morality. Beijing: China Youth Publishing Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan, Junren. 2009. Universal Ethics. Beijing: Peking University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Xiaoxi. 2004. Morality, Ethics, Principles and Their Relationships. Jianghai Academic Journal. Issue 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Xiaoxi. 2009. Basic Characteristics of Contemporary Enlightenment of Socialist Morality and Communist Morality. Studies on Ethics. Issue 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xi, Jinping. 2014. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, 173. Foreign Languages Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xia, Weidong. 1991. The Essence of Morality. Beijing: China Renmin University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, Xiangdong. 2006. Moral Philosophy and Practical Reason. Beijing: Commercial Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Guorong. 2002. Ethics and Being: Treaties on Moral Philosophy. Shanghai: Shanghai People’s Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Yuanbing. 1986. The General Theory of Communist Morality. Shanghai: Communist Shanghai People’s Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Philosophy Department, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China

    Xiaoxi Wang

Authors
  1. Xiaoxi Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaoxi Wang .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Yilin Press, Ltd. and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Wang, X. (2018). What Is Morality?. In: The Theory of Moral Capital. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0478-1_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation