“Moral Health”: A Crucial Element to Consider Alongside Physical and Mental Health When Evaluating Patients’ Well-Being

Abstract “Moral health” is a key element to consider alongside physical and mental health, when evaluating patients’ overall well-being. Scientific evidence supports the relevance of “moral health” in modern health care: different studies have in fact revealed the strong link between our neurobiological nature and moral behavior. For this reason, I argue that moral theories cannot be founded solely on human rationality, but should take into account the inclinations inherent in our biology that are imprinted in our material nature. Notably, this perspective is consonant with the meaning of the Greek expression splanchnízomai (found in the New Testament) and/or the Hebrew expression rahamîm (found in the Old Testament). These words can be translated as “inward bowels,” from which derives the inner drive that accounts for our feelings of compassion that helps in explaining moral behavior.