MORALITY

morality. 1. Conformity with recognized rules of correct conduct. 2. The character of being

virtuous, esp. in sexual matters.

“[T]he terms ‘morality’ and ‘immorality’ … are understood to have a sexual connotation. In fact, the terms ‘ethics’ and ‘morals’ are no longer interchangeable in everyday speech. A governmental official arraigned on a ‘morals charge’ will be accused of something quite different from one accused of an ‘ethics violation.’ ” William P. Golding, Philosophy of Law 55 (1975).

3. A system of duties; ethics.

private morality.A person’s ideals, character, and private conduct, which are not valid governmental concerns if the individual is to be considered sovereign over body and mind and if the need to protect the individual’s physical or moral well-being is insufficient to justify governmental intrusion. • In his essay On Liberty (1859), John Stuart Mill distinguished between conduct or ideals that affect only the individual from conduct that may do harm to others. Mill argued that governmental intrusion is justified only to prevent harm to others, not to influence a person’s private morality.

public morality. 1. The ideals or general moral beliefs of a society. 2. The ideals or actions of

an individual to the extent that they affect others.

[Blacks Law 8th]