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To deliberately fail to fulfill one's moral obligations or duties.
Le gouvernement a été critiqué pour avoir abandonné ses responsabilités morales envers les plus vulnérables.
The government was criticized for shirking its moral responsibilities toward the most vulnerable.
Elle a abandonné ses responsabilités morales en mentant pour protéger ses intérêts.
She shirked her moral duties by lying to protect her interests.
This phrase emphasizes a conscious decision to neglect ethical or moral obligations, often with negative consequences.
Use this phrase when discussing ethical failures or deliberate neglect of moral obligations. It is stronger than 'negligence' and implies a moral failing.
Avoid translating 'abandonner ses responsabilités morales' as 'abandon one's moral responsibilities,' as this sounds unnatural in English. 'Shirk' or 'fail to fulfill' are more idiomatic.
The phrase combines 'abandonner' (to abandon, from Old French 'abandoner', derived from 'à bandon' meaning 'at one's disposal') and 'responsabilités morales' (moral responsibilities, from Latin 'responsabilis' meaning 'answerable'). The concept of moral duty has roots in philosophical and religious traditions, emphasizing ethical obligations.
This phrase is typically used in formal or critical contexts, such as ethical debates, political discourse, or personal reflections on integrity. It implies a deliberate choice rather than an accidental oversight.