In order to define the concept of "moral feelings", you should first find out what feelings are in general. Often feelings are on a par with such concepts as perception, sensation, thinking. These categories are responsible for displaying the events perceived by a person and indicate the direct relation of the individual to everything that happens in the world around him. Moral feelings and moral norms are closely related.
What are feelings?
From the point of view of psychology, feelings are an individual attitude of a person to what he cognizes, to others and to himself. They are divided into two categories - lower and higher feelings. The first category includes the satisfaction of any physiological needs, the second category implies moral, aesthetic and intellectual feelings.
Where do moral feelings come from?
Primarily influenced by society and the environmentreality. Any environment in which a person functions has its own limits of permitted behavior. What is normal for some may be completely unacceptable for others. It depends on the nationality, religion and even the country in which the person lives. Society establishes the norms of behavior, and the person lives in accordance with these accepted norms. It seems that everything is simple, society establishes - we follow, but what will happen if a particular individual refuses to live in accordance with the proposed moral standards?
What happens if you reject the norms of morality?
First of all, non-compliance with the norms and rules of behavior prescribed by morality causes negative emotions not only from society, but also from a person in relation to himself. This manifests itself in remorse, guilt, shame, and even jealousy and pity. If society did not exist, then individuals would not have an idea of what the rules of decency are, would not distinguish between beauty and ugliness, the correctness and incorrectness of actions, and so on. But the question remains open: "What are moral standards, how and by whom are they established?"
Morality and the modern world
Recently there have been heated discussions about what is good and what is bad. Society is undergoing a reassessment of values, the world around us is undergoing major changes, and we are changing along with it. It can be seen that what was once considered shameful and immoral is now perceived by society.fine. The most striking example is the sexual revolution. If before the bridegroom was the first and only bridegroom, and any deviation from this rule caused negative emotions in society, now everything is completely different.
Can it be considered moral harm to another person? It is difficult to answer this question specifically, even the Criminal Code takes into account the circumstances of the crime, and we can talk about mitigating signs. If the crime was committed in self-defence, can such an act be called immoral? Everyone gives the answer to himself, based on upbringing and personal principles.
That is why morality is a purely individual concept. However, the adoption of the foundations of morality is order in society. If a person did not have moral principles, the world would return to primitive society. Morality is proof of the development of society.
How do higher feelings arise?
First of all, the highest moral feelings arise in the mind of a person when he in his behavior is based not on his desires, but on the requirements put forward by society. In the process of upbringing, these requirements must be firmly planted in the mind of a person, so that in the future they become his own requirements for himself. Often these feelings appear in the mind of a person on the basis of a certain case or event that occurred in life. It can also only be a temporary experience. Often, moral feelings arise after generalizing the perception of many phenomena of reality.
SBy the development of society, a person has acquired the skill to perceive what is happening around not only on the basis of morality, but also on the basis of an assessment of these events. Here one of the components of morality appears - aesthetic feelings.
Moral feelings are a stable attitude of an individual to society and to himself. What are these feelings like?
Humanity
This moral sense is based on the moral principles and values of a person. It is this category of feelings that guides a person in the knowledge of such phenomena as the recognition of the rights, freedom and dignity of the surrounding people. It manifests itself through dialogue, help, empathy. Moral feeling and moral behavior are the basis of humanity.
Honor
This category is responsible not only for a person's attitude towards himself, but also for how society and the people around him treat him. This is the highest moral feeling - the recognition by the public of certain human achievements.
This concept includes the desire of a person to maintain his reputation, good name, dignity. Feelings of moral responsibility also fall into this category.
Intellectual feelings
Arise in a person in the process of cognition of a particular phenomenon. Thirst for knowledge, euphoria from learning something unknown, a sense of mystery, doubt, surprise, confidence - all these feelings are inextricably linked with the concept of morality. The source of intellectual emotions is creative, scientific and research activity.
Aesthetic feelings
This category answersfor the feeling of beauty, for the love of beauty, which arises in connection with phenomena and events that cause aesthetic pleasure and delight. These feelings are responsible for the attitude of a person to objects and phenomena. For example, a person wants to learn how to draw because this activity gives rise to aesthetic feelings.
Every human activity is based on attraction to beauty. Therefore, aesthetic feelings are realized in virtually any field of activity.
Feeling comical
This category is recognized as one of the most difficult, as it combines three main aspects - morality, aesthetics, intellectuality. The sense of humor can be expressed in absolutely various forms. For example, a friendly attitude, sympathy turns into a sense of humor. The opposite of humor is satire, a feeling that is thoroughly saturated with malice. We all have heard more than once that the best medicine is laughter, it is he who fights against negative emotions that arise in the human mind.
A sense of humor can be aesthetic, intellectual, and moral at the same time. Therefore, psychologically, these feelings are not so easy to distinguish.
The highest given feelings are called only because they unite all the variety of emotional relationships of a person with society and himself.
