moralité

Moralité is a noun in French referring to the quality of being moral or the set of moral principles that govern a person’s conduct. In English-language contexts, it is often translated as morality or moral character. The term derives from Old French moralité, from Latin moralis, and has appeared in philosophical discourse since the medieval period, where it signified matters of virtue and ethical evaluation rather than legal obligation alone.

In philosophy, moralité denotes normative questions about how people ought to act and why. It intersects with but is distinct from law or religion, and may be analyzed descriptively (how people actually behave) or normatively (how they should behave). Major theories include deontology (duty-based rule following), consequentialism (outcomes matter), and virtue ethics (character traits).

Cross-cultural and historical variation shows that moral codes are not universal, though some scholars seek cross-cultural commonalities such as prohibitions on harm. Psychologically, morality involves judgment, emotion, and motivation, including moral intuition, empathy, guilt, and altruism. The term is also used in everyday language to describe someone’s moral fiber or integrity. Critics note that moralité can be contingent on cultural context and language, raising questions about moral objectivity and relativism.