moral force
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. An efficient incentive; a powerful motivating principle or influence: "Moral force" refers to a compelling power that drives action or change based on ethical principles, conscience, or a sense of duty, rather than through physical coercion or material reward.
Usage and Examples
- The leader's integrity gave her arguments a tremendous moral force that her opponents could not match.
- The protest movement drew its moral force from the universal principles of justice and human dignity.
- His apology lacked moral force because his subsequent actions did not change.
Advanced Usage
- "To carry moral force": To possess persuasive power due to perceived ethical rightness.
- A law that is widely seen as fair will carry more moral force than one imposed arbitrarily.
- "The moral force of an argument": The persuasive power derived from the ethical soundness of the reasoning.
- The judge was swayed not by legal technicalities but by the moral force of the argument against cruelty.
Variants and Related Words
- Moral authority (n): The credibility to influence others based on perceived integrity and ethical standing. (Closely related, often used in similar contexts).
- Ethical imperative (n): A principle perceived as a necessary duty based on morality.
Synonyms
- Persuasive power
- Ethical impetus
- Convincing power (based on principle)
Notes on Meaning
- Moral Force vs. Physical Force: This term explicitly contrasts with physical coercion. It is the power of an idea, principle, or person to compel action through persuasion and ethical rightness.
- Moral Force vs. Legal Force: A law has legal force (enforceable by the state), but it gains moral force when citizens obey it out of a belief in its justice, not just fear of punishment.
Noun
- an efficient incentive
- they hoped it would act as a spiritual dynamic on all churches