Dr. Darling
INS 301
11/7/00
Is there a Moral Code?
What is a moral code? I feel that a moral code is a "unwritten code that one lives by," This code is indicating how I should live. There is not anyone watching over me judging my moral code; just I am responsible to my self for my actions. However, a moral code should always be in my head and tells me how to act in all situations. An example would be littering; is it right to throw that gum wrapper out the window of my car? No, just put it in a pocket, I can throw it out later. If you I throw that wrapper out the window I might feel what Dick Gregory (433) calls "shame"; the feeling of regret or disgrace over an action like throwing a gum wrapper out the window. The moral code would make me feel this way because I would disgrace my own moral code by throwing that wrapper out the window. I might even consider why, should I cause some one else to clean up my mess and feel shameful for causing that to happen?
Another example would happen when driving in traffic. Sure, I could be that guy who doesn't let anyone in traffic and be the one yelling
Thering 2
and honking, but why? It's not going to help me go any faster. Just relax and let some one in the traffic. Then some day when I really need to be let in traffic, the person who I let in will let me in or another person who I let in will recycle that good deed and let some one else in and in time it will get back to me.
When one does a good thing it will always come back to help in time. In the end, I feel that one must treat others the way he/she would like to be treated. An example of this happened when I was on Phish tour. I lost my wallet in Albany a few years back. The kid that found it remembered me ...