The
Morality of
Human
Acts
Module 3 Week 4-5
Introduction
This module elaborates on the morality of
human acts, the three elements constituting
human act in contrast with act of man, and
the human act as governed by the norm of
morality.
Will you
save him?
Table of contents
The Nature of Act of Man
01 Human Act 02
Degrees of Determinants
03 Voluntariness
of Human Acts 04 of the Morality
of Human Acts
Table of contents
Moral Principles
05 in the Judgement
of Morality
01
The Nature of
Human Act
Human Act
"is an act which proceeds from
the deliberate freewill of man."
Elements
Human Act
Knowledge - means that the act is done in the
light of the agent's knowing faculty. He is
aware and conscious of what he is doing.
Elements
Human Act
Example:
Ariel, a fourth-year student-teacher, has learned how to
conduct practice teaching. And he does the act of teaching
during his practicum to elementary pupils. In the first place, he
is aware and conscious that he is doing the act practice
teaching. He knows what it means of thus, practice teaching
constitutes a "knowing act' the primary element of human
act.
Elements
Human Act
Freedom - means that the act is performed in
accordance with and not against the will. It is
under the control of the will determining the
act.
Elements
Human Act
Example:
Though he is complying with what is required in the
education curriculum under supervision and
observation by a critic teacher, Ariel does the act of
practice teaching. He does it according to and never
against his will even when he can also choose not to do
it. Thus, he is free to do it.
Elements
Human Act
Voluntariness - means that the act done by
the agent is intentional. When he voluntarily
performs an act, the agent intends it as a
product of his decision which is within the
power of his will.
02
The Act Man
Act of man
is an act that does not proceed from the
deliberate freewill of man.
Elements of
act of man
1. There is no element of knowledge. It is not
a deliberate or knowing act.
Elements of
act of man
2. There is no element of freedom. It is not a
free act.
Elements of
act of man
3. There is no element of voluntariness. It is an
involuntary act.
morality
Morality is the measure of relation between
the human act performed and its norm.
morality
a human an act that is imputable to the
agent.
Imputability may take place as a matter of
praiseworthiness or culpability.
morality
a human an act that is imputable to the
agent.
Imputability may take place as a matter of
praiseworthiness or culpability.
03
Degrees of
Voluntariness
of Human Acts
Perfect and
imperfect
Perfect Voluntariness- is present in the human
act when the agent fully knows (with full
knowledge) and fully intends (with full
intention or willfulness) the act.
Perfect and
imperfect
Imperfect Voluntariness is present when there
is some defect in the agent's knowledge or
intention or in both.
Simple and
conditional
Simple Voluntariness is present in a human act
performed whether the agent likes or dislikes
doing it. It pertains to an act done for it is
simply intended, or undone for it is simply not
intended.
Simple and
conditional
Conditional Voluntariness is present in the agent's
wish to do something other than that which he is
actually doing, but doing it with repugnance or
dislike. The existence of a certain specific
condition or situation is that which defines and
necessitates the voluntariness of an act.
Direct and
indirect
Direct Voluntariness is present in a human act
willed in itself. Being willed in itself means that
the act is done as a means to achieve an end
which is the goal or purpose for which the
agent is doing the act.
Direct and
indirect
Indirect Voluntariness is present in that human
act which is the foreseen result (or a result that
could and should have been foreseen) of
another directly willed act.
Positive and
negative
Positive Voluntariness is present in a human
act of committing, of doing, or of performing.
In a way, it is referred to as an "act of
commission."
Positive and
negative
Negative Voluntariness - is present in a human
act of omitting, of not doing, or of refraining
from performing. In a way, it is referred to as
an "act of omission."
Actual, virtual,
habitual and
interpretative
Actual Voluntariness- is present in a human
act willed here and now.
Actual, virtual,
habitual and
interpretative
Virtual Voluntariness is present in a human act
done as a result of or by virtue of a formerly
elicited actual intention, even if that intention
is forgotten here and now.
Actual, virtual,
habitual and
interpretative
Habitual Voluntariness - is present in a human
act done in harmony with, but not as a result
of, a formerly elicited and unrevoked actual
intention.
Actual, virtual,
habitual and
interpretative
Interpretative Voluntariness is that
voluntariness which, in the judgment of
prudence and common sense, would actually
be present had the opportunity or ability for it
been given.
04
Determinants
of Morality of
Human Acts
The act itself
Intrinsic morality - pertains to the fact that
there is an act which is, in itself, capable or
not, of being ordered to the dictates of right
reason, human nature and, God's eternal law.
The act itself
Intrinsically good act - is an act whose
goodness proceeds from its very nature
"capable of being ordered to the good and
to the ultimate end which is God" apart from
the two (2) other determinants of morality.
The act itself
Intrinsically evil act is an act whose evil
proceeds from its very nature, incapable of
being ordered to the nature of the human
person and to God.
Motive of
agent
The motive of the agent refers to the end,
purpose, or goal to be achieved by means of
the act. It is the objective for which the act is
done. In short, it is the intention of the agent in
performing the act.
circumstances
Circumstance of Person refers to the agent
performing the act or to the person to whom
the act is done.
circumstances
The Circumstance of Quantity or Quality of the
Act refers to "what is the extent of the act?
circumstances
The Circumstance of Place refers to the venue
where the act is performed.
circumstances
The Circumstance of Means or Instrument
refers to that which is used and employed in
the performance of an act. It is deemed
associated with the act in its performance.
circumstances
The Circumstance of Manner refers to the
condition in which the act is done or how it is
performed by the agent.
circumstances
The Circumstance of Time refers to the
duration within which act is done, when it is
performed, and how long an intention to do it
takes place.
05
Moral
Principles in
the Judgement
of Morality
Moral Principles
Governing the motive of
the agent
1. A good act which is done for a good
motive becomes doubly good.
Moral Principles
Governing the motive of
the agent
2. An evil act which is done for an evil motive
becomes doubly evil.
Moral Principles
Governing the motive of
the agent
3. A good act which is done for an evil motive
becomes evil.
Moral Principles
Governing the motive of
the agent
4. An evil act which is done for a good motive
does not become good.
Moral Principles
Governing the motive of
the agent
5. An indifferent act which is done for a good
motive becomes good.
Moral Principles
Governing the motive of
the agent
6. An indifferent act which is done for an evil
motive becomes evil.
Moral Principles
Governing the
circumstances of the
act
1. Circumstances can make an indifferent act
good or evil.
Example: Martha, a first-year college student,
is singing. She sings during study hours at the
library.
Moral Principles
Governing the
circumstances of the
act
2. Circumstances can make a good act evil.
Example: A single, lady high school teacher
falls in love and demonstrates it in every loving
way she can. Her beloved is the school's
good-looking principal who happens to be a
married man already.
Moral Principles
Governing the
circumstances of the
act
3. Circumstances can never make an evil act good.
Example: Raymond, a second-year college student,
cheats during the final examination. He does it so that
he can pass not just the said examination but also the
subject as he has been given the last chance out of a
series of failures in his academic and class
performance.
Moral Principles
Governing the
circumstances of the
act
4. Circumstances can make good or evil acts better or
worse.
Example: A newly-hired college instructor starts
practicing her profession by facilitating the teaching-
learning process in her class with excellence and
distinction. She has been nurturing the thought of
serving her students deep within her heart since
college.
Moral Principles
Governing the
circumstances of the
act
5. Circumstances can cause new goodness in a good
act or new malice in an evil act.
Example: A high school values education teacher
steals. He steals the class standing fund intended for the
purchase of values education books that are supposed
to be used by his students who need values
reorientation for a well-integrated life.
Moral Principles
Governing the
circumstances of the
act
6. A gravely evil circumstance destroys the entire
goodness of an objectively good act.
Example: A male college dean recommends a female
classroom instructor for promotion to a position of area
chairperson in a premeditated intention of establishing
illicit sexual intimacy with her.
Moral Principles
Governing the
circumstances of the
act
7. A not so gravely evil circumstance does not destroy
the entire goodness of an objectively good act.
Example: Before going to school, a classroom college
instructor prays to God to make her an instrument of
knowledge and wisdom to her students. She does it
carelessly and lazily.
Conditions affecting
the morality of human
acts
1. IGNORANCE
Ignorance of the Law - is the absence or lack
of knowledge of the existence of a certain
law.
Conditions affecting
the morality of human
acts
Ignorance of the Fact - is the absence or lack
of knowledge of the violation of a certain law.
Conditions affecting
the morality of human
acts
Privative Ignorance- is the "absence of
knowledge that ought to be present." No
amount of excuse from culpability can ever
be invoked in such an ignorance. It holds the
agent altogether responsible.
Kinds of ignorance
Invincible Ignorance is that kind of ignorance
which cannot be dispelled because it is not
within the capacity of the agent to do so and
obtain knowledge.
Kinds of ignorance
Vincible Ignorance is that kind of ignorance
which can be dispelled because it is within the
capacity of the agent to do so. Here,
knowledge is obtainable if sufficient and
diligent efforts are exerted.
Kinds of Vincible
ignorance
Simple Vincible Ignorance - is that kind of
vincible ignorance in which the agent exerts
certain but not sufficiently enough effort to
dispel his ignorance and obtain knowledge.
Kinds of Vincible
ignorance
Supine Vincible Ignorance - is that kind of
vincible ignorance in which the agent has the
capacity but does not exert any effort at all to
dispel his ignorance and obtain knowledge.
Kinds of Vincible
ignorance
Affected Vincible Ignorance is that kind of
vincible ignorance in which the agent exerts
positive effort to deliberately foster his
ignorance in order to escape responsibility
that knowledge may require.
Conditions affecting
the morality of human
acts
2. Concupiscence "is the rebellion of the
passions against reason... (It) is the revolt of
the sense faculties of human against the
dominion of his higher faculty of reason. All
human perceive this revolt within themselves.
Types of concupiscence
Antecedent Concupiscence pertains to the
occurrence of passions prior to the act of the
will and is not therefore willfully fostered.
Types of concupiscence
Consequent Concupiscence - pertains to the
occurrence of passions as deliberately
fostered by the will.
Conditions affecting
the morality of human
acts
3. Fear is an agitation of the mind brought
about by the apprehension of an impending
evil.
Types of fear
Light Fear - is that in which the evil
threatening is present but slight, or serious but
remote.
Types of fear
Grave Fear - is that in which the evil
threatening is serious and severe
Types of fear
Intrinsic Fear - is that in which the evil
threatening proceeds from within oneself
Types of fear
Extrinsic Fear - is that in which the evil
threatening proceeds from outside of the self.
Necessary Extrinsic Fear - is that
agitation brought about by the outside forces
of nature
Types of fear
Free Extrinsic Fear is the agitation that
proceeds from the freewill of another. The
other's choice of action is that which is feared
by one experiencing free extrinsic fear.
Conditions affecting
the morality of human
acts
Violence is an external force extorted by a
free cause to coerce the other into doing that
which is contrary to his will. The free cause
refers to the person who has the freewill to
inflict the said force upon his victim.
Types of violence
Perfect Violence is that in which the victim
gives complete resistance to the application
of external force.
Types of perfect violence
Physically Perfect Violence - is that in which
the victim uses every possible means of
resisting at the command of his will.
Types of perfect violence
Morally Perfect Violence is that in which the
victim makes use of all powers of resistance
that can be employed. It entails judgment of
reason about the kind of resistance which is
due and necessary so that no useless form of
resistance may be applied.
Types of violence
Imperfect Violence is that in which sufficient
resistance is not exerted despite the available
opportunity and capacity to terminate the
violence.
Share Your Thought
Can a good person do evil things and
remain a good person? Under what
circumstances?
Thanks!
Do you have any questions?
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