U.S. Adults Perceive Moral Obligations to Self, Study Reveals
A recent series of studies conducted with U.S. adults indicates a widespread belief in moral obligations to oneself, even when actions do not directly affect others. Over 85% of respondents affirmed the existence of such self-obligations, citing examples primarily related to mental and physical health, cultivating moral character, and adhering to religious commitments. Philosophers have historically debated the coherence of self-obligations, with some arguing that morality primarily governs interpersonal interactions and others, like Immanuel Kant, asserting the fundamental duty of self-respect. The studies aimed to differentiate genuine self-obligations from mere personal preferences, finding that participants identified acts like avoiding self-harm and maintaining mental health as non-optional moral duties owed to oneself. They also judged that violating these obligations constituted doing something wrong to oneself, a perception that persisted even when considering an isolated individual, akin to Robins... 
