Moral bankruptcy
Encyclopedia
Moral bankruptcy is a synonym
for immorality that has gained popular usage in the fields of business
and politics
, in which it specifically implies some instance of political corruption
or corporate crime
. It is a negatively connoted
term referring to the deterioration or devaluation of morality
in a person or entity, usually with the implication that the person or entity is aware of and responsible themselves for this deterioration. Moral bankruptcy, therefore, suggests that an individual has a sense of what is both morally good and bad (i.e. right and wrong), but consciously and deliberately chooses to make decisions in accord with the morally bad. Because of its negative connotation, the term tends in particular to mean both a selfish and consistent disregard for morality (where morality means a certain ethical domain, like propriety, justice, duty, the law, etc.). Moral bankruptcy may be distinguished from amoral
ity, which is simply any absence of morality (e.g. some animals as an entire species may be considered amoral simply because they do not belong to cultures with moral codes). One who is exhibiting moral bankruptcy is said to be morally bankrupt.
Synonym
Synonyms are different words with almost identical or similar meanings. Words that are synonyms are said to be synonymous, and the state of being a synonym is called synonymy. The word comes from Ancient Greek syn and onoma . The words car and automobile are synonyms...
for immorality that has gained popular usage in the fields of business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, in which it specifically implies some instance of political corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
or corporate crime
Corporate crime
In criminology, corporate crime refers to crimes committed either by a corporation , or by individuals acting on behalf of a corporation or other business entity...
. It is a negatively connoted
Connotation
A connotation is a commonly understood subjective cultural or emotional association that some word or phrase carries, in addition to the word's or phrase's explicit or literal meaning, which is its denotation....
term referring to the deterioration or devaluation of morality
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
in a person or entity, usually with the implication that the person or entity is aware of and responsible themselves for this deterioration. Moral bankruptcy, therefore, suggests that an individual has a sense of what is both morally good and bad (i.e. right and wrong), but consciously and deliberately chooses to make decisions in accord with the morally bad. Because of its negative connotation, the term tends in particular to mean both a selfish and consistent disregard for morality (where morality means a certain ethical domain, like propriety, justice, duty, the law, etc.). Moral bankruptcy may be distinguished from amoral
Amoral
Amoral may refer to:*Amorality, the absence of morality; for example, a stone, a chair, or the sky may be considered amoral**Specific amorality, the absence of some particular moral standard, principle, code, or knowledge...
ity, which is simply any absence of morality (e.g. some animals as an entire species may be considered amoral simply because they do not belong to cultures with moral codes). One who is exhibiting moral bankruptcy is said to be morally bankrupt.