Moral hierarchy is like a ladder that helps us decide which actions or behaviors are good and which ones are bad. Just like we climb a ladder step-by-step, we also prioritize our moral values or beliefs from the most important to the least important.
For instance, honesty and kindness are at the top of the moral hierarchy for most people because they are universal principles that help us build a better and more just society. On the other hand, stealing or harming others are at the bottom of the hierarchy because they cause harm and violate the basic rights of others.
When we face a moral dilemma, we use our moral hierarchy to determine what action to take. If telling the truth means hurting someone's feelings, we may need to choose between honesty and kindness. However, if we believe that honesty is more important than kindness, we would tell the truth even if it hurts.
In short, moral hierarchy is a way for us to prioritize and navigate our moral values and beliefs when making decisions that shape our character and influence the world around us.