Imperativeness of 'Moral Values'

The word 'Morality' has been derived from the Latin word 'mores' which means "manners". According to social scientists Aminigo and Nwaokugha (2006) the term 'morality' is "an accepted code of human conduct in a society". Morality further connotes "having laws that will regulate dealings of men who choose to abide by certain laws because they know it is good sense to do so" (Uyanga and Amingo; 2010). Values are linked to beliefs and attitudes and guide human behavior (Rennie, 2007). With the rapid growth of technology, society is advancing in more than one field. As per a researcher Witz (1996) prior to the nineteenth century, science practices were centered on moral and religious values along with an appreciation of philosophical and metaphysical aspects of science education. At that time, societal activities were both supportive of, as well as supported by science practices. The positive side was that it enabled the science to work such that it influenced individual moral and spiritual evolution, besides fostering morals and higher values. Contrastingly, in the present society ethical and moral values seem to be at a state of rapid deterioration. The present scenario of our global society irrespective of various educational reforms showcases various cases of moral misconducts. In the academic setting students' unrest; higher level of intolerance; immoral activities; licensuous lifestyle-all constitutes the present status of degraded form of value system. It is indeed the direst need of the hour to relook at the debilitating status of moral values among individuals. Therefore, the present study endeavors to re-look at the importance of moral values.