Meaning of moral judgment - What it is, Definition and Concept

Moral judgment is a philosophical concept used to describe those determinations made using personal values ​​, which the person can apply to himself or others.

A moral judgment allows us to discern between good or evil based on life experiences or values ​​, which may differ from what is legally permitted and prohibited, being a completely subjective reasoning process.

In a moral judgment one acts conscientiously according to the personal moral of the individual that determines what is right and wrong, which changes during life while new experiences are gained.

Moral judgment allows us to discern between right and wrong

A moral judgment can be community and establish social sanctions even if there are no legal reprimands , this is given by the common customs and values ​​of a society that dictate unwritten rules about behavior.

The community moral judgment can socially absolve a person who is guilty in court, as he considers ethical and valuable contexts that are moral but not legal mitigations, although it should not have a bearing on justice with often constitutes strong pressure on judges and prosecutors.

The personal judgment is the one that allows to make decisions and the moral that gives the valuations to arrive at a determination .Although the moral judgment is personal, in this it influences the formation of each individual so much in the family as social part.

In a moral judgment the person determines that the incorrect is immoral, since it goes against their own values ​​, so it is totally subjective since there are no two individuals that share 100% its values.

Another characteristic that makes personal morals unique is that it is formed through life experiences and, according to them, there may be mitigating or aggravating according to circumstances even when it is a shared value.

In a moral judgment are considered elements: Action, intention and circumstances , which are weighed to make a decision, which can be applied to personal situations or actions of third parties in the form of a verdict that may or may not be known.

The term moral judgment comes from the union of two Latin words: iudicium (verdict) and moralis (way of life), what gives with a concept referred to a decision taken based on precepts that we apply to daily life from the subjective point of view of morality.

Examples of use of moral judgment

• Juan is a straight person thanks to his impeccable moral judgment


• My moral judgment prevents me from cheating on exams


• Justice condemns him for helping his patient die, but the community moral judgment acquits him since he acted out of compassion

Synonyms of moral judgment

set of values, ethical judgment, ethical deliberation, integrity judgment, value judgment

Antonimos of moral judgment

legal trial, immoral decision