Moral Agency

Moral agency presumes that human beings are capable of choice and morally accountable for their actions, as well as the consequences of those actions. Closely related to the theory of self, moral agency embodies the ability to self-regulate and self-sanction one's behavior; it is part of living in community. Individuals have the capacity for making moral judgments and taking actions in keeping with a moral code. People who function as moral agents are able to consider the relationship between means and ends. They balance their intentions and actions with probable consequences and determine whether the ends justify the means. In general, theories of moral agency do not hold an individual responsible for the unintentional consequences of an action.

To some degree, moral agency is dependent on the social position or political representativeness of an individual. People who hold high social or political positions are often held to a higher moral standard than average community members might be. Whatever their status, though, all members of a community are expected to adopt the community's standards of right and wrong. They are expected to observe their own behavior, assess the degree to which the behavior adheres to the community's moral standards, and correct their conduct accordingly. Redemption, or forgiveness of a person's transgressions, is often contingent on the perpetrator's admission of guilt.

However, when a society's rules oppress, disenfranchise, or marginalize specific groups, individuals often step forward to challenge what they perceive to [Page 1410]be the injustice or immorality of those standards. Sometimes, these individuals belong to the oppressed group; sometimes, they do not. These people question the status quo and assert the need for change. While they may be viewed initially as dissidents or troublemakers, these people may become the leaders and agents of sweeping social change. In the Unites States, the Abolition, Women's Suffrage, and Civil Rights movements were founded when individuals or small groups of people called for change; although initially scorned, many of those early social change advocates are now viewed as heroes.

Moral standards are usually based on a combination of cultural, religious, and philosophical concepts and principles, which are used to determine whether a particular action is right or wrong. However, in the 20th century, Western culture individualized the definition of morally correct behavior, diminishing the hegemony of some established religions and other traditional moral authorities as the arbiters of morality.

To function as a moral agent, a person must understand the responsibility one has to behave morally. They must be able to feel shame, guilt, or remorse when they violate the moral code, proportionate to the magnitude of the violation. This requires a fairly welldeveloped sense of empathy and compassion: Moral agents are able to fully humanize their fellow citizens. They are also able to predict the probability of various outcomes of their actions and understand the relative desirability of each probable outcome. Under ideal circumstances, moral agents are able to postpone a decision long enough to consider the consequences before taking action. They operate free of coercion and are able to choose any possible course of action. They understand the potential outcomes of their actions. In addition, moral agents are able to exert the following pressures on their own behavior.

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