Synopsis of Social Morality

8/21/2019 Synopsis of Social Morality

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Synopsis of Social Morality Look at where we have come, where we are going, and what it is doing to our

society! We live in a time when most people act immorally since they don't

have a society based system of morals. As a global-society we also act

immorally. obody lives isolated by themselves, so everyone as part of this

global-society needs to follow the same system of morals and values. We can

admit we are globally connected. What happens in one part of the world has an

affect on the rest of the world, and as such we are globally connected. As a

global-society, we need to get back to a system of morals that every rational

being can follow, social morality.

As a society , we have lost hope for the future, and even the present, in some

regards. ost individuals are "uick to #ust react, as they live in the here-and-

now, with no conse"uences for the future. We have lost our moral compass,

being "uick to react and not think as intelligent beings and act morally.

$he world is crying out for a system of morals and values, for the betterment

of society and every individual. We can already see in the newest generation

the lack of morals and values, and their lack of ambition for the future. %s this

the society we want for our future& ociety needs a system of morals and

values, which we are currently lacking as rational intelligent human beings.

We have created a society of the haves and have-nots. Anytime we divide

ourselves, the underlying basis is those who have 'something' and those who do

not have the 'something'. $hose who do not have the something, tend to be less

valued in our society. Any 'something' can be used as an e(ample, whether it be

money, race, religion, etc. )nfortunately, we fail to reali*e everyone is part of

this global-society, and as such, everyone should strive for and be encouraged

to find a moral place in society, as we all have an effect on each other.


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ocial morality is a moral philosophy, which sees the fact we live in a global-

society with all of us being connected, and us such, we have an affect on

others, and others have an affect on us. +umans are globally linked into a large

macrosociety, and as such we are all interconnected, every person on the

planet.

ocial morality is simply doing the right thing, which we are already born

knowing, with the premise that all individuals need to follow the ma(im, Act

according to that ma(im whereby you treat the world as an ends and never as a

mere means.

$his means simply each individuals needs to start evaluating how they go about

achieving a specific outcome. What means did they use to achieve the

outcome, and was the outcome achieved morally& $ake for instance a goal of

ac"uiring money. An individual can follow a route in which the money is

obtained morally and legally, since most of our laws already follow social

morality, or they may obtain the money immorally and illegally.

As we can reali*e our interconnectedness to one another, we also need to seeour interconnectedness to other living and nonliving things on the planet. We,

as individuals, have an affect on the arth, and as a global-society, have a

global affect on the planet. We need to recogni*e this effect and treat living

species and nonliving things morally by simply doing the right thing.

We cannot continue to be a society of haves and have-nots, because as we

continue we create a society where people feel they are not valued. $ruth of

the matter is everyone is valued, everyone has an important role in society,

and a responsibility to act morally. or can we continue to be a society blind to

our societal affect on the planet.


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As a global-society, we need a system of morals and values where every

rational and intelligent human being recogni*es their duty to follow. +owever,

changing the morals of a global-society can't occur until a critical mass is

reached, and the only way to build up to a critical mass is by starting a chain

reaction. tarting the momentum of moral change, and following a system of

morals and values in a global-society.

ocial morality is not a dramatically different change in mindset. %n some ways

individuals are already following social morality. ost of the laws which govern

us follow social morality. eople are already doing social morality in some

ways, unfortunately sometimes the focus tends to get blurry and the moral

choice isn't made. As rational human beings, we already know how to do the

right thing, it is inborn into us, we #ust need to enhance it and keep it focused.

We keep it focused by learning morality or relearning morals based on a global-

society, then practice social morality, and finally teaching social morality.

First Section of Rationale for Social Morality

/ne must admit societies have changed over recorded time. When populations

were small, humans lived in small groups and took care of one another, treating

each other with a basic system of morals and values. As our numbers grew we

then started competing with one another, tribe versus tribe and later nation

versus nation.

$his competition amongst human beings has been increasing as our numbers

grew. 0ompetition is an inborn trait in all species and is necessary for survival,

but competition without morals is creating a society that is tearing itself apart

through immorality. As a global-society we need a moral compass to guide us,

so we treat each other, other living things, and our planet in a moral way which

benefits our current and future global-society. 1ou can trace all the negatives2

war, murder, abortion, health care crisis, financial turmoil, failing education,


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violence, crime, and the like, on no moral compass. As a global-society and as

human beings, we have lost our moral compass.

+ow far have we come since 3455& We continue to act more violently and

immorally towards each other. We live in a global-society in which we are all

interconnected6 and we need to start learning how to live together, because we

are /$ living together. We are going in the wrong direction as far as living

together in our own increasingly larger society, much less a global-society.

Look around as a rational intelligent thinking human being, it is easy to see

how this global-society of almost seven billion 78,555,555,555!9 people is not

living together as a global-society, and how we treat each other immorally

daily. We are improving technology everyday, along with destructive

technology, and readiness to use technology immorally.

/ur immoral competition has turned into a society of individuals only living in

the hear-and-now without rationally thinking about conse"uences in the future.

$his society living in the here-and- now is creating a generation of children who

rationali*e only in terms of the here-and-now. %ndividuals go out and act in themoment without regard for any conse"uences, and no regard to morals and

values. eople are "uick to react instead of thinking like rational human

beings.

o we e(ist in a globally linked society with the most influential individuals

living in the here-and-now. Who are those influential individuals, every member

of society. ost individuals will think only about the moment and not

rationali*e the future outcome of the action. ociety has become, if it makes

an individual happy, it is morally right.

What has this done to our society& We live in a globally connected society

without morals and values, individuals no longer have a society based system of

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morals for the society in which they live. We live in a world of the haves and

the have-nots. We continue to subdivide ourselves, the underlying basis being

those who have 'something' and those who do not have the 'something'. /ne is

free to choose any 'something' as an e(ample. $hose who do not have the

something, tend to be less valued in our society.

ince all individuals strive to be valued in society, the world of the haves and

have-nots, generates individuals who may use immoral means to ac"uire the

'something' 7ends9. We cannot continue to be a society of haves and have-nots.

We should live in a society where everyone is valued, everyone has an

important role in society and a responsibility to act from the duty of a thinking

human being to act morally. $he message can be seen in song, movies, and

television. $his global-society is crying out for a moral change, a moral

compass, a global morality -Social Morality.

Second Section of Rationale for Social Morality

Social Morality is a moral philosophy which states2 we live in a global-society

with all of us being connected, none of us live in isolation. We have an effect

on others, and others have an effect on us. +umans are globally linked into a

large macrosociety, and as such we are all interconnected, every person on the

planet.

We live in a global-society of almost seven billion human beings. A new system

of morals and values is needed as a global-society interacts with one another

and tries to advance in the new millennium. A system every rational and

intelligent human being would agree with, and in fact most already follow

social morality in some regards. ince we are a globally linked society, we must

possess a system of morals and ethics not based on religious beliefs. ocial

morality is not saying religion is bad or inferior. %n fact, social morality is free

to let an individual choose their own path to spirituality6 they still posses free


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will, but since we are a diverse macrosociety with many diverse religions,

social morality cannot be based on any one religion. +owever, most of the

religions worshipped around the planet already follow social morality.

ocial morality is simply doing the right thing, which we are already born

knowing, with the basic principal of, Act according to that ma(im whereby you

treat the world as an ends and never as a mere means. $his simply means

whatever the outcome that an individual is trying to obtain, they need to think

about the way in which the outcome or result is to be achieved , and as a

rational human being, have the duty to act morally and only choose moral

means to obtaining an outcome. %t is doing the right thing, which as rational

beings we are already born knowing.

Looking at the current condition of this global-society, what is to blame& %t is

the lack of a global system of morals and values. Who is to blame for our lack

of morality& very individual of this global-society, not following a global

system of morals and values. Any individual not thinking as a rational being

with the very basic instinct of right and wrong.

%t is easy for an individual to "uickly say they have morals, but as a rational

intelligent being, what morality does their action show& Though it is not the

intention to subdivide humans into the haves and have-nots, it serves as a

good example to illustrate a point. ven when it comes to morality we can

divide society into the haves and have-nots. $hose who follow a system of

morals and values as a member of a global-society, or those who choose to

follow no morals or whose daily actions show a lack of morals. 0urrently, it

appears as those who do not act morally are the driving force of this global-

society.

As a rational intelligent thinking human being, what system of morals do you

follow& +ow do you treat people morally everyday& +ow do you treat people


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immorally everyday& What is the end outcome of your system of morality& Are

your morals based on selfish ends& :oes your system of morals and values divide

groups into haves and have-nots& %s the end outcome of your system of morals

and values an ends based on retribution. As a rational thinking being, you have

free will to act in any manner bound by natural laws, but how moral are your

actions and what is the ultimate intention of your actions&

As a rational intelligent thinking human being, it is your duty to follow a system

of morals and values. As a rational being you must act from duty, the duty in

the fact that you must be moral, not for any reward or retribution, but only for

the sake of being moral. As a member of a global-society, it is your duty to

follow a system of morals and values.

;0ontinue to third section<

Third Section of Rationale for Social Morality

$he system of morals and values needed for a global-society in the =3st century

is social morality. As a rational intelligent thinking human being, an individual

must agree with and follow social morality. /ne principle of social morality is a

hierarchical structure. +umans e(ist in society in a hierarchical structure, from

individual to global-society, as we interact and depend on others for our daily

e(istence.

+uman intelligence matures in a hierarchical structure, as well as our need for

a system of morals and values with a hierarchical structure. ven on the most

basic level, social morality can be thought of in terms of positive-positive. All

species of animals can relate on the most basic level of positive-positive, it is

what keeps an individual of any species of animal alive, an instinct and a law of

nature. +umans, as well as other living things, and ob#ects cannot violate the

laws of nature. Which positive actions will bring positive outcomes. $his is

inborn into all living animals, of which biologically humans are part of this

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group. Which positive7moral9 actions will produce positive7moral9 outcomes,

and which negative7immoral9 actions will produce negative7immoral9 outcomes.

When an individual uses immoral actions to achieve a specific outcome, the

outcome in terms of social morality and its hierarchical structure is always

negative and immoral.

All species which live in groups, follow a basic system of positive-positive, for

the success of the group, and success of the individual, since individuals

comprising the group follow their inborn positive-positive for their survival. As

human societies changed, individuals began trying to violate the natural law of

positive-positive. %ndividuals started using immoral actions to achieve their

ends, not seeing the basic instinct of positive-positive.

ince humans are interconnected in a global-society, we fail to see the basic

instinct of positive-positive and the fact that moral individuals make up a moral

global-society, benefiting the individual and society. $his tends to bring labels,

which only generates -isms, which at the basic level in a hierarchical structure

is the haves and have-nots. >overnment is made up of individuals and if

individuals use moral means to achieve moral ends, then government is

inherently moral.

/n the basic level a system of morals and values for a global-society, cannot

violate the natural law of positive-positive and moral competition for an

individual to find their role in society. (amples of social morality can already

be seen in some regards, though at times individuals may use immoral means to

an end, because they are "uick to react and violate a natural law of positive-

positive, instead of thinking as a rational and intelligent being. ost of the

laws which govern us follow social morality and most of the religions practiced

around the world preach a form of social morality.

;0ontinue to fourth section


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ourth Section of Rationale for Social Morality

$he solution to start living together as a global-society is by implementing a

global morality. ?ust like in nature, using a hierarchical structure, beginning

with individuals, who will infuse social morality into their lives and spread the

word of a new generation, a moral generation.

@y sending the message to many individuals, it can be thought of as starting a

chain reaction. $hose individuals will live morally and discuss social morality

with those they interact with, who will then begin living morally and discussing

social morality, like in a chain reaction where a reactive product causes

additional reactions to take place, with the reaction continuing until thisglobal-society reaches critical mass.

$hese individuals will share social morality with their microsociety , family and

friends, and as the chain builds, increasing in a hierarchical structure2 from

communities, to towns, cities, states, nations, and then globally. A new moral

generation will evolve as we spread the word, thereby adding to the chain

reaction, a chain reaction to push a moral cause, to start acting globally like

rational intelligent thinking human beings and begin living together as a global-

society.

An individual must use social morality to guide them into following moral

means to moral ends. An individual will have to act morally out of duty with

the very basic instinct of right and wrong. %f people didn't know what they were

doing was wrong, they wouldn't try to hide it. An individual must act morally,

because it is the right thing to do not because they buy into any hype, but

because they think as rational human beings, and as rational beings know they

are bound to a system of morals and values in a global-society.

ocial morality is a change in an individual's mindset to act as a rational

intelligent thinking human being6 and see how we are not treating each other

http://www.moralgeneration.org/http://www.moralgeneration.org/


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morally on a daily basis. An individual is no better than someone else because

we all have an important role in society and a duty to act morally. We are all

human beings, but as we separate ourselves into the haves and have-nots we

start to devalue others, leading to2 violence, hatred, racism, greed,

intolerance, and disrespect6 because it doesn't matter if we use the have-nots

for our own personal gain. $here is no need to be courtesy, or polite, as we

treat most of the people in our lives as a means to an ends.

Sociamorality.org.

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oral ositioning2 A formal theory

Posted on Nov 30, 2006 in Issue no.1, November 2006, o!ume 06

Thomas Aström, Ph.D.

Abstract

"#is artic!e $resents t#e main out!ines o% a t#eor& o% mora!

$ositionin', contributin' to t#e ana!&sis o% mora!i(in' as a socia!

$#enomenon. It is a %orma! t#eor& in severa! o% its as$ects. "#e

discovered $atterns #e!$ to e)$!ain socia! interaction in con%!icts

and #o* ordinar& $eo$!e use t#ese $atterns in re!ation to ot#ers.

+ora! $ositionin' is %reuent!& occurrin' in socia! situations *ere

imba!ances and con%!icts arise amon' individua!s and 'rou$s.

+ora! $ositionin' is #ere t#eori(ed concurrent!& *it# asu$$ortin' conce$tua!i(ation o% socia! $ositionin'. "#e mode! #ere

$resented can be used to e)$!ain t#e $ositionin' $rocess and is

$ossib!e to use in order to become a*are o%, and in a better *a&,

mana'e a con%!ict.

"#e core variab!e in mora! $ositionin' t#eor& #as t#e %orm o%

a triadic $attern, bui!t on t#e mora! $ositions -ood, vi! and

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ictim /-$attern. "#e mora!i(in' $rocess is easi!&

understood as socia!!& and d&namica!!& constructed $atterns o%

$ositions. "#ose identities are re!ated in t#ree basic and

com$!ementar& dimensions o% meanin' )istence, Interest and

+ora! dimensions /I+$attern, eac# one *it# its o*n con%!ict

$attern. "#e c!assic 'rounded t#eor& met#od *as used and t#eresu!ts *ere %irst $resented in m& dissertation in 2003.

4 578S9 Con%!ict, +ora!, Positionin', Identit&, Interaction,

-rounded t#eor&.

Introduction

ri'ina!!& t#e $ur$ose o% t#is $ro:ect *as to %ind out *#&

t#ere are so man& com$!icated re!ations in a disab!ed $erson;s

!i%e. In m& %irst attem$ts to researc# t#e $s&c#osocia! as$ects o%

bein' disab!ed and be!on'in' to a %ami!& *it# a disab!ed c#i!d, I

met a barrier t#at $revented me %rom enterin' t#at %ie!d and

'ettin' access to %ie!d data. "#e stron' 'ate t#em %rom researc#ers, *it#out

even 'ivin' t#em t#e o$tion to ta


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afterwards'% and anot#er9 =I don#t want to e (!oted)% or a t#ird9

“I fee" nasty te""ing yo! ao!t this%. In%ormation contro! seemed to

be centra! in t#e interaction on suc# intricate matters. I cou!d

!ater use bureaucrats; and ot#er $ro%essiona!s; reactions on t#e

sub:ect as use%u! data. "#e& indirect!& to!d me *#at I ou'#t to

%i'ure out. And I *ent on co!!ectin' and ana!&(in' more data ont#e %orces in t#e %ie!d o% #andica$. It became more and more

obvious t#at in%ormation contro! is run b& t#e %orces in di%%erent

t&$es o% mora! $ositionin'.

In t#is $a$er, mora! $ositionin' is $resented as a t#eor&

about t#e $rocess in *#ic# an ordinar& $erson 'ives mora!

meanin' and identit& to sub:ects and ob:ects. It o%%ers an

interactive $ers$ective on t#e mora! issue. +ora! $ositionin' isn;t

dea!in' *it# mora!it& as a re!i'ious or $#i!oso$#ica! matter on

#uman be#aviour it;s not re'ardin' t#e normative issue in

de%inin' *#at is 'ood or bad. In t#is $ro:ect, I %ocus on #o* $eo$!e

mana'e di%%erent t&$es o% con%!icts and #o* mora!i(in' is used.

*ora" positioning emer'ed as t#e core cate'or& o% *#at is

obvious!& a ver& common basic socia! $rocess.

"#ere are severa! $atterns o% mora! $ositionin' %ound in

data. "#e $atterns are %!e)ib!e and can be used b& an& $art& in

an& t&$e o% con%!ict. "#e& s#o* t#e $ossib!e variation and

d&namics in t#e mora! $ositionin' $rocesses. ?& usin' mora!

identities t#e $artici$ants are de%ined t#rou'# uestions !i


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-ivin' mora! meanin' to somet#in' inc!udes t#e con%!ict

bein' mora!i(ed. "#e sub:ect o% con%!ict is about e)istentia! andBor

interest matters. Ana!&(in' con%!icts in interaction as a socia!

$ositionin' $rocess invo!ves severa! im$!icit $atterns. "#ese

$atterns are o% a 'enera! nature, eac# one be!on'in' to its s$eci%ic

dimension o% meanin', )istentia!, Interest or +ora! /Astrm,2003. "#is e)tended mode! o% interre!ated dimensions and

$ositions is a mode! %or socia! $ositionin' ana!&sis, and it seems

to serve *e!! in t#e ana!&sis o% meanin' and identities. "#e

mora!it& o% an action is a!*a&s re!ated to meanin's in e)istence

and interests and *i!! c#an'e in re!ation to conte)t and

situationa! %actors in a d&namic *a&.

7esearc#in' *it# t#e c!assic 'rounded t#eor& met#od

enab!ed me to discover, e)$!ore and deve!o$ conce$ts t#at mi'#t

be #e!$%u! in dea!in' *it# con%!icts. +ora!i(in' is obvious!& a

centra! as$ect in t#e course o% events in socia! con%!ict interaction,

bot# overt and covert. "#e discover& o% t#e t#eoretica! core

$attern, t#e -oodvi!ictim$attern, *as decisive %or ana!&(in'

and t#eori(in' t#ese $rocesses. Some ma:or discoveries *i!! be

described more e)tensive!& since t#e& are obvious!& ver&

im$ortant %or t#e main %eature o% t#e t#eor&.

Method

"#e researc# met#od *as c!assic 'rounded t#eor& /-!aser,

1D1, 1DE, 1E, 2001, 2003, 200F used in a consistent *a&

%o!!o*in' t#e ste$s in t#e emer'in' o% a core $rocess, re!evant

data sam$!in', a substantive t#eor&, sam$!in' o% di%%erentia! but

re!evant areas and %ina!!& a %orma! t#eor&. "#e c&c!ic $rocedures,constant!& su$$orted b& com$arin' and *ritin' u$, !et t#e t#eor&

emer'e %irst as a substantive t#eor& main!& bui!t on data %rom

t#e %ie!d o% disabi!it& G and t#en as a %orma! t#eor& 'rounded on

data %rom severa! di%%erent %ie!ds inc!udin' education, c#i!d care,

mana'ement, $o!itics and s$orts.

"#e %irst ma:or ste$ in t#e ana!&sis *as t#e emer'in' o% %ive

substantive sub$rocesses $resented in m& dissertation /Astrm,

20039 &ompetitive mora" positioning, "ocking of mora" positions,

mora" gate+keeping, s!perhai"itating and ecoming

overdependent . bservations and intervie*s *ere done *it#$ersons *it# im$airments in di%%erent a'es and !i%e situations,

$arents and $ro%essiona!s suc# as $#&siot#era$ists and

occu$ationa! t#era$ists, nurses, doctors, $s&c#o!o'ists,

$s&c#iatrists, $ersona! assistants, socia! *or


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interactions. "#e resu!t o% t#is ana!&tic *or< *as a t#eor& o%

mora! $ositionin'.

"#e second ma:or ste$ *as to com$are t#e

conce$tua!i(ations %rom t#e %irst ana!&sis in t#e %ie!d o% disabi!it&

*it# com$!ete!& di%%erent %ie!ds, searc#in' %or $ossib!e %orma!ua!ities in t#ese conce$tua!i(ations. "#e t#eoretica! core, t#e

-oodvi!ictim$attern, turned out to be 'enera!!& a$$!icab!e in

com$!ete!& di%%erent areas and circumstances and to #ave obvious

%orma! ua!ities. It *as natura! to !et a %orma! t#eor& emer'e

%rom t#e com$arin' o% mora!i(in' in a variet& o% conte)ts and

situations. +ora! $ositionin' emer'ed as a %orma! t#eor&.

Sources o% %orma! t#eor&

As t#e substantive t#eor& seemed to be eas& to use in ot#er

areas it *as near at #and to 'o %or*ard to %orma! t#eor&. It seems

t#at $eo$!e easi!& a$$!& t#is t#eor& in t#eir t#in


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im$ortant $arts o% #abitus /?ourdieu, 11, inte'rated durin'

socia!i(ation $rocesses.

Part I9 Socia! $ositionin' G an ana!&tic $ers$ective

"o understand K$ositionin'; in mora! $ositionin' one #as to

reco'ni(e t#e conce$ts o% t#e ana!&tic too! socia! $ositionin'ana!&sis. "#e emer'in' o% t#is too! *as $ara!!e! to t#e emer'in' o%

a t#eor& o% mora! $ositionin' and as mora!i(in' is best

understood as a $ositionin' $rocess, I *i!! start *it# a s#ort

$resentation o% socia! $ositionin'.

A Ksocia! $osition; is as a conce$t sometimes $erceived as

one;s $!ace in a socia! #ierarc#&, a %ie!d o% business or ot#er

conte)ts and sometimes as in ta


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"#e ana!&sis indicates t#at one can;t e)$!ain mora!

be#aviour so!e!& b& re'ardin' t#e $atterns o% mora! $ositionin',

because an& mora!i(in' reuires an e)istentia! and interest

matter to ma


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Part II9 +ora! $ositionin'

It is a!most im$ossib!e to ima'ine a societ& *it#out t#e

$#enomena o% mora!i(in'. +ora!it& is a $o*er%u! socia! %orce used

in a !ot o% im$!icit and una*are interactions. "#rou'# ana!&sis, it

cou!d be easier to reco'ni(e its use and misuse.

Persistent iss!es of good and evi"

+ora! $ositionin' is dea!in' *it# -ood and vi! as common!&

used cate'ories *it# an immense variet& o% re$resentations. "#e

ana!&sis s#o*s #o* mora!i(in' *or


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peop"e is good mora" . ?ut mora!i(in' is a!so based on !oca! /or

individua! interests, e'ocentric or et#nocentric, !i


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An&one can be in a #e!$!ess sta'e, %or e)am$!e stric


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com$etin' con%irms t#e ot#ers as some*#at vi! andBor ictim.

"#is mi'#t #ave a decisive in%!uence on individua!s de$endent on

t#ose *#o are more resource%u! /S*art, M So!omon, 2003

+itc#e!!, 1E1.

Identities *i!! be %ormed *it# re%erence to t#e dimensionsand $atterns in t#e I+mode!, *it# mora! meanin' as *e!! as

e)istentia! or %rom interest. 5i!! *e, %or e)am$!e, sti!! %ee! sorr&

%or t#e be''ar *#en #e turns out to be t#reatenin' and obstinate@

Cou!d #e be an actua! t#reat to our !i%e ua!ities and interests@

8o *e %ind #im more o% a $er$etrator t#an a victim@ ur current

mora! conste!!ation *i!!, as *e ca$ture it in a t#reatenin'

situation, !ead to re$ositionin' and c#an'es in our o*n actin'.

Per#a$s !ater, in a re%!ective mood, one ma& %ind ot#er mora!

stand$oints %rom a *ider e)istentia! $ers$ective, inc!udin' t#e

be''ar;s !i%e stor&, disadvanta'es and socia! distress. +ora!

$ositionin' and its %orma! con%!ict $attern can be instant!&

activated and a!so deactivated as soon as t#e t#reat is 'one.

5#en %ee!in's o% %ear no !on'er are at t#eir $ea as a $ersistent identit&. "#e

su%%erer e)$ects to meet com$assion and *i!! $robab!& need it.

?ut a $erson stric


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s$ecia!!& in a conte)t o% 'ui!t, t#ere *i!! be an ur'e to ta


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interest and o% e)istentia! bereavement in socia! $rocesses !i, sa&s one *oman *it# motor im$airment.

+ora! ob!i'ations obvious!& aren;t one *a& even, i% *e sometimes

t#in< so and it;s not a!*a&s c!ear *#o is #e!$in' *#om.

"o ma


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Kstrict!& business;attitude, *it# no e)istentia! or mora!

considerations. Anot#er e)am$!e an attitude o% Knoneo%m&business;

as a *a& to mar< one;s !imited mora! res$onsibi!it&,

riddin' onese!% o% mora! ob!i'ations and emotiona! invo!vement in

t#e ot#er.

8ear and defence

"#e activation o% mora! $ositionin' #as severa! a!ternative

drives, but %ear and bereavement are o% 'reat im$ortance.

+ora!i(in' is a means to re'u!ate be#aviour to be acce$tab!e and

un#arm%u!, and *i!! t#ere%ore be %reuent!& used. *ora"

recr!iting is sometimes used to assemb!e su$$ort %or Ka 'ood

cause;, !i


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seem to be combined to some e)tent, but t#e& a!so occur

se$arate!&.

"#e #ierarc#& o% socia! status ca$ita! in KverBUnder;

re!ations is a basic and o%ten ru!in' identit& structure. 8urin'

interaction, *e constant!& de%ine ot#ers and ourse!ves as eua!,to$ do' or underdo' and *e act to


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%orce in im$!icit structures. ven i% t#e $attern isn;t %u!!& e)$osed

in a!! its $ositions, it is sti!! t#ere im$!icit!&.

"#e -$attern is easi!& a$$!ied and reco'ni(ab!e as a

basic $attern %or ever&da& !i%e. "#e ans*er to t#e mora! uestion

K5#o is 'ood /or evi!, or victim@; is a!*a&s mode!!ed in aconste!!ation t#at %o!!o*s t#e -triad. "#e $attern is activated

even *#en a!! $ositions aren;t obvious and c!ear!& $ersona!i(ed.

In t#e sentence KThe mother resc!ed her chi"d from eing a!sed# ,

t#ere is a!so an abusive /im$!icit vi! $o*er $resent in t#e

conste!!ation. ven *#en someone sa&s9K He hit me);, t#e 'ood$osition

is $resent in t#e conste!!ation because one re'ards

#ittin' someone as vi! and t#e !istener is e)$ected to #o!d t#e

im$!icit 'ood$osition. I% t#e ans*er is9 K4ou earned itR;, t#ere

*ou!d $robab!& be some mora! con%usion about *#at is ri'#t or

*ron'. Unc!ear conste!!ations t#at are bui!t on a $attern !i


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meanin' in its !in


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t#e $ositions as ictim or vi! to ot#ers G a $ro$osa! t#at ma&

arouse %ee!in's o% con%!ict or com$etitive action on t#e issue.

A!ternative!&, i% *e $oint out a ictim, t#ere *i!! be an instant

%i!!in'out and $ro$osin' o% *#o is vi! and *#o is -ood in a

$ersona!i(ed conste!!ation, because o% t#e %u!%i!!in' c#aracter o%

t#e triadic -$attern. Not a!! activated $atterns *i!! resu!t inan estab!is#ed conste!!ation, as t#e $erce$tion o% a $ro$osed

meanin' mi'#t be transient or abandoned. ?ut some *i!! be

acce$ted as re!evant, or im$osed as inevitab!e, and t#ere%ore

rea!i(ed as im$ortant socia! identities. In a tense situation and a

con%!ictive conte)t, mora! im$osin' tends to be stron' and t#e

$osition di%%icu!t to esca$e.

"#e 'ivin' and ta


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is evi!;, as re!evant socia! identities in a s$eci%ic situation and

conte)t.

12+pattern as an ana"ytic !nit

"#e basic $attern o% mora! con%!icts, t#e -$attern, *or


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"#e I+mode! is t#e resu!t o% a 'rounded t#eor& ana!&sis

and o%%ers t#e $ossibi!it& to visua!i(e con%!ict $ositions in a !ot o%

di%%erent a$$!ications. ver& $osition in t#is mode! is combinab!e

*it# an& o% t#e ot#ers in t#e re!evant conste!!ation or

combination o% meanin's, and t#ese dimensiona! $atterns are

abidin' in trans%er into di%%erent !eve!s o% abstraction.

It is im$ortant to $oint out t#at in t#e e)istentia! dimension

t#ere is a tremendous amount o% K!i%e ua!ities; t#at can be termed

in di%%erent !eve!s, but its basic con%!ict meanin' is cau'#t in t#e

e)$ression Kbein' vs. not bein';. In a simi!ar *a&, t#e interest

dimension #as an enormous variet& o% Kca$ita!; and Kca$ita!i(in';

in socia! !i%e, and #ere t#e basic con%!ict meanin' is K#avin' vs. not

#avin';. ?ot# Kt#e need %or a !i%e ua!it&; /an e)istentia! drive and

Kt#e interest %or a ca$ita!; /a ca$ita! drive are concurrent socia!!&

constructed d&namics o% !i%e. 5#en a ne* need arises, it usua!!&

a*a


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stric


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use mora!i(in' in a !ot o% di%%erent *a&s and %or di%%erent reasons.

Suc# reasons are to reach a"ance within one#s own mind and

emotiona!!& c#ar'ed *or!d, promote etter positions %or onese!%

andBor ot#ers in uestions o% interest. "#at is %or reaching

important capita" and for gaining positive "ife (!a"ities.

5#en I tried to %ind out t#e im$ortance o% mora!i(in' in

con%!icts, I *as sur$rised to discover t#at t#e con%!icts cou!d be

c!assi%ied and ana!&(ed in a t#reedimensiona! mode! /I+ *it#

'reat covera'e in t#e socia! %ie!d. +ora!i(in' cou!d be understood

and e)$ressed *it# its core $attern, -, in re!ation to activit&

*it#in t#e dimensions o% e)istence and interest.

I %ound t#at t#e metastructure I+, in a %orma! *a&,

e)$oses #o* mora! meanin's are re!ated to strivin' %or desired

!i%e ua!ities and com$etin' %or si'ni%icant ca$ita!. "#e mode!

emer'ed a%ter re$eated use in su$ervisin' sta%%s and $ersons *it#

disabi!ities. 5it# t#is mode! it;s eas& to dis$!a& #o* se$arate

meanin's !in< to'et#er in $atterns, t#rou'# $ositionin's *#en

*e interact socia!!&, and #o* mi)ed meanin's can be se$arated

and c!ari%ied. KPosition, $attern and !in


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"#e reason *#& t#is t&$e o% area is %i!!ed *it# tense re!ations

and $s&c#o!o'ica! tensions seems to be t#at it contains di%%icu!t

con%!icts t#at easi!& activate mora!i(in'. Con%!icts o% e)istence and

interest are natura! and a!! t#e time current in a!! t#ese %ie!ds. I%

it;s o% 'reat im$ortance to be reco'ni(ed as 'ood, it 'ives t#e

socia! interaction a s$eci%ic c#aracter. 5#en t#e conte)t iscon%!ictive, t#e identi%ication o% t#e K'ui!t&; and evi! becomes

im$ortant, in !ine *it# *#at sometimes is ca!!ed a K'ui!t conte)t;.

-ui!t is, bot# as a %ee!in' and a socia! matter, bui!t on t#e -$attern.

Some o% t#e $ro%essiona!s intervie*ed %e!t rea!!& uneas&

ans*erin' uestions about socia! and $s&c#o!o'ica! as$ects in

connection to a 'ui!t conte)t.

"#e resistance amon' $ro%essiona!s to o$en insi'#t is

sur$risin'!& stron' and o%ten overt#ro*s t#e $rob!ems

ori'inatin' %rom obstructions to o$enness. "#e !ac< o% resources

t#at is t#e outcome o% t#e un*i!!in'ness to s$ea< out about needs

%or $s&c#osocia! #e!$ amon' disab!ed c#i!dren isn;t mora!!&

con%!ictive at !east not at t#e same !eve! as t#e %ee!in's o%

con%!ict *#en ta!


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e)am$!e, a mora!i(ed con%!ict can be %ormed *it# t#e -$attern

in an& combination *it# e)istentia! or interest con%!icts.

As a %orma! $attern, t#e mora! con%!ict $attern #as no

obvious !imitations. I #ave intervie*ed and tried t#is $attern on

$ersons %rom di%%erent cu!tures and re!i'ions. Since mora!i(in' isused e)tensive!&, most!& in con%!icts, t#e -$attern is

a$$!icab!e in an& %ie!d o% socia! activit& t#at can be mora!i(ed.

mer'in' o% t#e dimensiona! I+$attern

5#en ana!&(in' t#e term Kvictim;, t#at %reuent!& occurred in

data and seemed to be si'ni%icant, I %ound t#at t#e use o% it *as

unc!ear. It carried actua!!& t#ree di%%erin' meanin's t#at cou!d be

better termed as Kstric


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"#e dividin' !ine bet*een meanin's o% e)istence and

meanin's o% interest is to some e)tent tentative, but so %ar t#e

di%%erentiation o% meanin's ori'inatin' %rom t#ese t#ree

dimensions seems re!evant and *or


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ca$ita!. An&one can, to a certain e)tent, !earn #o* to use t#e core

$attern %or 'ainin' more mode! $o*er /?raten, 1E2, to

understand *#at is 'oin' on and !earn #o* to do strate'ic

$ositionin'.

Usin' t#e socia! $ositionin' ana!&sis is one *a& o% becomin'a*are o% *#at is 'oin' on in re!ation to ot#er $ersons. It can be

im$!emented in 'rou$s %or an ana!&sis o% t#e 'rou$ members;

identities and si'ni%icant conste!!ations. "#e vi! vs. ictim

conste!!ation can be c#an'ed to a notab!e vs. strict#e mode! to t#eir o*n cases, and it *i!! on!& ta


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5#at dimension is dominant at t#e moment@ Lrom *#ere come

m& %ee!in's o% unease@ In *#ic# dimension be!on's m& o*n and

ot#ers actin'@ 5#ic# identities are activated@ Ho* is t#e

conste!!ation $ersona!i(ed@ 5#ere am I in t#at@ Lor *#at !i%e

ua!ities are t#e ot#ers and I %i'#tin'@ Are t#e& t#reatened@

5#at simi!arities and di%%erences are obvious bet*een t#e$arties; $ers$ectives@ 5#at sort o% so!utions and com$romises

cou!d ba!ance t#e situation@ 5#at !i%e ua!ities can be a'reed on

as mutua! and basic@ 5#at is a %air ba!ance o% ca$ita! in certain

si'ni%icant as$ects@ 5it# uestions !i


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Astrm, "#omas. /2003. In t#e %orce %ie!d o% #andica$. +ora!

$ositionin' and t#eor& o% socia! $ositionin'. 8octora!

dissertation. Universit& o% Stoc?erne, . /16.-ames Peo$!e P!a&. "#e Ps&c#o!o'& o% Human

7e!ations#i$s. ondon9 Pen'uin ?oo


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Synopsis of Social Morality

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