The value of an action based on the moral motivation behind it, particularly acting from duty rather than inclination. In Kantian ethics, only actions done from good will have true moral worth.
From Latin 'moralis' and Old English 'weorþ' (value, price). Kant developed this concept to distinguish between actions that merely conform to duty and those done from duty itself.
Moral worth is like the difference between a forced smile and a genuine one—the external action might look the same, but only the one from the right motivation has real moral value. It's why Kant said even failed attempts at doing right can have moral worth.
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