Importancia del mejoramiento continuo

The term morality derives from the Latin plural “mores”, meaning “morals” or

“manners”. It is used to mean the generally accepted code of conduct in a society or within a sub – group of society. It is also used to mean the pursuit of good life. It is a ‘set of principles’

and certain attitudes and behaviours towards fellow men. Principles concerning right or wrong, good and bad. A system of moral principles followed by a group. The degree to which it is right or wrong. It is a state of affairs involving human relations which are consistent with the

conception of the greatest good. It could also mean the differentiation of human actions into good and bad in accordance with accepted norms of human conduct. What readily comes to mind when we talk about morality is conduct and attitude of man. And an observation has shown that attitudes and conducts of man are functions of one’s dominant beliefs.

Agha (2003), opines that:

An act is right if it conforms to the society by which it is judged. Therefore, moral conduct of a man is that which produces the greatest possible good in a situation.

It means that the conduct has desirable qualities which satisfy some valuable need.

A thing can only be said to be good when it makes for social welfare. (p. 35).

Morality is the attitude of man with regard to the moral law which is based on his free decision. Morality sometimes is taken to mean definite character based on the predomination of one whole people or a social group (p. 246).

So we notice from the above that morality in a way is the sense of what is wrong or right, good or bad human conduct. Morals relate to principle of consideration of right and wrong actions or good character. Aghas (2003), further explains that action is right if it leads to physical, intellectual and spiritual development or to a more harmonious personal and social life (p.35). Action is right or wrong if it is detrimental to individual or society. It is an observance of the laws of whole-some living. To be moral is to be intelligent and to be sociable in the process of living. The right choice is the selection of the greater of greatest value while the wrong choice is the selection of some lesser good or value. Most people or many people look at morality as something to do with corruption or problem of sex.

These are but aspects, or forms small aspects of morality. Morality is a wider concept as it entails all aspect of our lives. Some of our actions are morally good, while some are

morally bad. Example of morally bad actions includes cheating, stealing, telling lies and other actions that are destructive to the society. Morally good actions include being honest, truthful, obedient and all the actions that protect, enhance and ensure habitual co-existence of individuals and entire society at large. These good actions do not only help to ensure the survival of our society, they improve the dignity of man. Morality leads one to leave out some evil mind or thought. Agha (2003), maintained that a moral person does not consider it right to commit action of plunder, theft and robbery action against anybody. The moral person is one who is responsible and self disciplined. Morality is significant because it leads to self awareness, responsible self and crime control. In views Bourk (1967),

Morality is the science and art of proper behaviour. It is the branch of philosophy that studies human action in terms of their being right or wrong licit or illicit. In order words it is the science of good and evil. The good is what is to be done, and evil is what to be avoided. It is also the science of what is to be permitted, may be done or what is forbidden, and may not be done. The motive in morality is goodness. It inquires into what makes a man a good man, not just a good painter or excellent footballer. The good is symbolized as well as expressed in words and actions. At the same time, the good resides in the person of human being, irrespective of his or her professional success or failure. A bad man (morally) thus can be great warrior, he is morally moribund, yet in battle field he is great (p.557) But the prime purpose of life is to be good ultimately. Hence morality goes to that profoundest level of the being of man: his goodness, holiness in a word, his perfection. Morality promotes the best and discourages the worst in man and society. It is the conscience of people and nations. This means that, morality must lead not just to clear ideas but also to clear acceptable action. To the question of why morality? Why should we do good and avoid evil?

Higgin (1956), states that:

It is for the welfare of all individuals and society. For failure to do good and failure to avoid evil will inevitably lead to chaos and to decimation of human life (p.3).

Higgins went further to state that: to do good would prolong and advance the human family. It is even from the practical perspective better to do good than to do evil.

In the long run, to do good is for the ultimate welfare of the human beings. To do evil, the same logic, leads to the disintegration of the evil doer. For anyone who continues a consistent evil life, will end up in an evil way. For evil ends up in evil.

This is why morality is both a normative and practical science. As a normative science it sets out norms that would help the human being arrive at good order and required order. As a practical science, it tells him or her right steps to take for such arrival at the good. There is in morality the question of intimacy of human acts and life. (p.557).

The final purpose of morality is the finality of human life in the world. Such finality is ultimate happiness. Every human being desires to be happy not only in this life, but ultimately after wards. Hence, morality aims at teaching man how to live well so as to arrive at happiness, he desires in long run which is the status of ancestor- hood in Igbo traditional world- view.