Final answer:
Individuals make moral decisions influenced by their conscience, traditions, religions, or self-interest. Morality often aligns with societal norms and varies across cultures and time, negotiating personal values with external influences to pursue a concept of a 'good' life.
Step-by-step explanation:
People make moral decisions based on a variety of factors including traditions, religions, and self-interest. Some individuals may be guided by their conscience, an inner sense of right and wrong, to determine their ethical actions. The source of this inner sense can vary, with some attributing it to natural law, while others point to cultural, societal, or legal norms. The motivation to be moral is a complex issue, where factors such as care for others, personal upbringing, and societal influence play critical roles.
Morality is often seen as a social construct that is informed by the norms and values of the culture at the time. As society evolves, so too do the ideas about what constitutes right and wrong. Making ethical decisions can also involve a deliberate process of weighing different moral principles. For example, Ethical Egoists focus on self-gratification, potentially leading to moral conflicts that lack a universal resolution. On a global scale, organizations like the United Nations employ the Principle of Utility to address conflicts and aim to reduce violence through common understanding.
Each individual's approach to moral decision-making is thus a reflection of both their internal values and the external influences from their culture and society. Whether these decisions are based on personal benefit, adherence to societal laws, or a commitment to a certain set of ethical principles, the goal is often to live a 'good' life, although what that exactly entails might differ widely from one perspective to another.