Lets speak of "Morality" on a Social Scale.
Universal morals are objective. They are not based on opinions of Theologians or anyone else. Universal morals are not created or determined by anyone. No one can deem what is moral and what is not moral. The same moral standards exist for each and every human being throughout all locations, cultures, and ages. Those standards are independent of anyone's opinions or proclamations. Moreover, two and only two black-and-white moral standards exist. Those two moral standards are:
Any chosen action that purposely benefits the human organism or society is morally good and right.
Any chosen action that purposely harms the human organism or society is morally bad and wrong.
Feelings and emotions, on the other hand, cannot be considered as standards, absolutes, or morals. A person's life-style, desires, needs, and preferences can vary greatly without altering that person's character or without making that person morally right or wrong. Still, moral absolutes do exist. And following or violating moral absolutes determines a person's character and self-esteem. The two moral absolutes essential for prosperity and happiness are:
Integrated honesty for knowing reality
Integrated efforts for increasing productivity
Habitually violating either of those two moral absolutes precludes genuine prosperity and happiness. Related to those absolutes are the following moral issues:
Moral
Honesty
Self-esteem
Individual rights
* * *
Immoral
Sacrifice
Use of force
Ends justifying the means
Prosperity and Happiness Approach
Conscious striving for self-honesty. Unyielding loyalty to honesty. Productive effort. (Moral)
Failure and Unhappiness Approach
Pragmatic compromise and evasion of honesty. Habitual dishonesty. Parasitical laziness. (Immoral)
Moral Issue: Productivity.
Prosperity and Happiness Approach
Productive actions that increase values to others and society while increasing effectiveness in dealing with reality. (Moral)
Failure and Unhappiness Approach
Destructive actions that decrease values to others and society while decreasing effectiveness in dealing with reality. (Immoral)
Moral Issue: Individual Rights.
Prosperity and Happiness Approach
Recognition of the inalienable right everyone has to his or her own life and property. (Moral)
Failure and Unhappiness Approach
Denial of individual or property rights in order to plunder the life and property of others. (Immoral)
Moral Issue: Sacrifice.
Prosperity and Happiness Approach
Refusal to sacrifice is by nature life enhancing and thus is morally right. (Moral)
Failure and Unhappiness Approach
Sacrifice is "noble", especially when done for a "higher" cause or, better yet, no cause. (Immoral)
Moral Issue: Use of Force.
Prosperity and Happiness Approach
Rejecting the initiation of force, threat of force, coercion, or fraud against any individual for any reason is the foundation of morality. (Moral)
Failure and Unhappiness Approach
Use of force (especially government force) is acceptable against individuals, especially if the result serves the social "good" or a "higher" cause. (Immoral)
Moral Issue: Ends Justifying the Means.
Prosperity and Happiness Approach
In regards to force, the ends never justify the means. All moral actions are based on principles that prohibit initiatory force, threat of force, coercion, and fraud as a means to accomplish ends, no matter how "noble". (Moral)
Failure and Unhappiness Approach
Ends can justify the means. Force and coercion can be pragmatically used for the "good" of society. Individual rights can be violated or sacrificed for "noble" ends. (Immoral)
