“Individuals: Do they develop their moral values through their own experiences, or are they shaped by social impositions?” This is the question. To me, both factors play a role in shaping a person’s moral values. In detail, they can influence our moral beliefs in different ways.
Firstly, what exactly are moral values? Morality categorizes intentions, decisions, and actions into those that are proper or right and those that are improper or wrong. Therefore, reducing this discussion to a single explanation would be a mistake.
From the perspective of personal experiences, individuals may not find an action improper or wrong depending on their own preferences and past encounters. For example, if someone has a traumatic experience related to swimming, they might perceive swimming as inappropriate or dangerous.
On the other hand, from the perspective of social impositions, the general opinion of a society can shape an individual’s moral perspective. For instance, a person who wants to convert to Islam in a predominantly Christian society may feel embarrassed due to societal pressure. As a result, they might conform to the majority and adopt Christianity, even if their personal beliefs lean toward Islam.
In conclusion, moral values cannot be attributed to a single factor. Both personal experiences and societal influences play a crucial role in shaping them.