moral authority
Righteous influence source
Moral authority is the credibility to make ethical judgments or guide others' behavior, derived not from official power but from perceived integrity, wisdom, or righteous conduct.
A person with moral authority commands respect through character rather than position: She had the moral authority to call out the committee's hypocrisy.
Institutions can possess or lose moral authority depending on whether their actions align with their stated values.
Moral soundness and consistency
- trustworthinessQuality of being reliable
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
accountability · transparency · reliability · honesty · sincerity · conscience · principled · uprightness
Foundational moral beliefs
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- justiceFair treatment under law
- conscienceInternal moral sense
duty · fairness · rectitude · probity · goodness · values · scruples · right conduct
Advice for decisions
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- statesmanshipSkillful government leadership
- elderSenior figure of authority
sage · conscience · shepherd · guardian · spiritual leader · community leader · prophet · reformer
Convincing through reasoning
- gravitasDignified, weighty manner
- respectRegard with honor
- exemplarTypical perfect instance
- role modelPerson others emulate
voice · platform · speaking truth · prophetic voice · witness · testimony · mandate · legitimacy
integrity
Moral soundness and consistency
- trustworthinessQuality of being reliable
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
authenticity · accountability · transparency · reliability · honesty · sincerity · conscience · principled · uprightness · standing
principles
Foundational moral beliefs
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- justiceFair treatment under law
conscience · duty · fairness · rectitude · probity · goodness · values · scruples · right conduct · dharma
guidance
Advice for decisions
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- statesmanshipSkillful government leadership
elder · sage · conscience · shepherd · guardian · spiritual leader · community leader · prophet · reformer · activist
persuasion
Convincing through reasoning
role model · voice · platform · speaking truth · prophetic voice · witness · testimony · mandate · legitimacy · soft power
- church-statechurch-state, separation, church-state separation, establishment clause, religious accommodation
- political ethicsethical standards, public trust, conflict of interest, conflicts of interest, impartiality
- standingstanding, status, stature, reputation, position
- religious nationalismreligious nationalism, theocracy, state religion, Zionism, Islamism
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
- authorityleaders, ruler, rulers, monarch, bosses
moral authoritymoral bankruptcy
Utter lack of principles
moral turpitude · moral corruption · corruption · wickedness · immorality
moral authoritybrute force
Power over technique
legal jurisdiction · raw power · authoritarianism · tyranny · intimidation
moral, authority, immoral, morality, authorize, morals, amoral, immorality, moralizing