Chapter 8

Moral Accountability

As we have discussed in our previous lessons that human acts are voluntary. Therefore, the doers
(meaning, you) are accountable for their (your) actions. They (You) are accountable for Their (your) actions
because human acts are imputed to you as its principal cause and, therefore, The person (you) deserve
either reward or punishment depending on the nature of the acts committed.

THE SUBJECT OF HUMAN ACTS

The subject of a human act is any person who is capable of acting intelligently and freely. So, who are
these intelligible and free that are capable of performing any action? Of course, it's you, since you are old
and mature enough to understand and make a willful decision. So, as a subject of human act, the person is
accountable for his decisions and actuations. Accountability may result to either reward or punishment.

Business organizations, institutions, associations, or unions that are constituted by law as juridical persons
are also subject to human acts.

● Rewards, Penalties, and Punishment in relation to actions

Every action has its corresponding consequence. Good actions deserve a reward, the rewards may be in a
form of appreciation, praise, or just a simple, yet meaningful words of thanks or maybe material things as a
gifts. However, for self reward it could be in a form of peace of mind and happiness

In the same manner, those actions that are against the rights of a lawful person have a corresponding
penalty or punishment depends on the weight of the offense/crimes committed. That's why the penal law of
the country provides a system of punishment for wrongdoings. This punishment is ranging from fines to
imprisonment. Capital punishment is reserved for "heinous crimes". Here, we are talking about moral and
criminal acts. That the moral one deserves a reward, while in the criminal acts the doer would suffer the
punishment to recompense his unjust actions toward others.

However, everything has its own limitations, so as the law of the land. That's why until now there is no
punishment imposed on immoral acts unless they are prohibited by the law.
However, immoral acts carry with them the burdens of guilt, remorse, and shame. The scriptures speaks
of death as the punishment for sins.

Medical science traces many illnesses to immoralities and spiritual disorientation. Evil acts and habits
cause suffering and unhappiness, not only to the victims but to the perpetrator and his relatives. The
shamefulness of such actions is shared by all members of the family of the guilt.

And there is the risk of being ostracized, losing a job, or being abandoned by loved ones.

THE MODIFIERS OF HUMAN ACT

As we discussed above, voluntary action is under the control of the intellect and the will of the person.
However, there are some factors that may influence the intellect and the will of the doer that would result to
actions that are not perfectly voluntary.

These factors are called modifiers of human acts. Because they interfere with the application of the intellect
and will, they either reduce or increase the accountability of the person. The moral axiom is: The greater
the knowledge and freedom, the greater the voluntariness and, therefore, the greater the accountability.

The following are the modifiers of human acts:

 (1) ignorance,
(2) passions,
(3) fear,
(4) violence,
(5) habit.

Ignorance
Ignorance is the absence of knowledge that a person ought to possess. This means that when you reach
the age of reason it's your responsibility to know the basic law or the moral standards of the society, or
simply the norms of the society.

That's why, a lawyer is expected to know the law; the doctor to cure illnesses; and the manager the
business operations. In the realm of morality, every normal people who have attained the age of reasons,
approximately seven (7) years old, is expected to know the general norms of proper conduct and behavior.

There are three forms of Ignorance namely; the Vincible, the Invincible, and the Affected ignorance.
Vincible ignorance is a form of ignorance which can easily be corrected through ordinary diligence. Here
are some examples in this type of ignorance, such as, when you do not know the time, or you do not know
the name of your neighbors, or you do not know how to cook chicken adobo. In this manner you are in the
state of Vincible ignorance, so now, how are going chicken coo do somanor tou ar
to correct it? Just by simply asking or checking the time, asking the name, and ask someone to teach you
how to cook chicken adobo.

Passion
Passion is a psychic or emotional response to any given circumstances. It is your positive and negative
emotions towards things. Meaning passion is either your tendency towards what is desirable (it could be a
person, object, or a situation or place). And, or it is your tendency to go away from what is undesirable one.

A passion that leads you to desirable things is considered a positive emotions, such as love, desire,
happiness, hope, and courage. while the passion that leads you away to what is undesirable is considered
negative emotions, such as hatred, fear, sadness, despair, and anger.

In relation to action, passions are either antecedent or consequent. An Antecedent passion comes as
natural reaction to an object without being stimulated intentionally. It comes first to any act, that's why it is
called "antecedent". A consequent passion, on the other hand, is the result of an act that is intentionally
aroused and kept.

In themselves, passions are not evil. However, since they influenced a person to act, they need to be
subjected to the control of reason.

Antecedent passions does not always destroy voluntariness, but they diminish (reduce/lessen)
accountability over an act. Antecedent passion weakens will power without completely blocking it. Thus, the
so-called "crimes of passion" are voluntary.
Consequent passions does not lessen voluntariness, and may even increase accountability. This is
because consequent passions are the direct result of the will consenting to them, instead of subordinating
them to the control of reason.

Fear
There is a difference between acting with fear and acting out of fear. Some actions which are difficult or
dangerous are done with fear. New experiences such as embarking on a long trip, being left alone in the
dark, or speaking in front of the crowd, make some people nervous and fearful. These actions are done
with fear. It is acting out of fear when fear causes a person to act, like to jump from the top floor of a burning
building.

● PRINCIPLES:
An Act done with fear are voluntary and are accountable.

An Act done out of fear, however great, is simply voluntary, although it is also conditionally voluntary. It is
simply voluntary because the person remains in control of his faculties. It is, however, conditionally
voluntary, because if it were not the presence of danger, the person would not have acted it.

Intimidating or threatening a person with harm is an unjust act. Legally and morally speaking, these actions
are done out of fear, actions done in an unjust situation is invalid acts. Thus, contracts entered into by a
party because of fear are null and void.

Violence
Violence is any form of physical force exerted to a person by a free agent for the purpose of compelling the
said person to act against his will. Torture, isolation, starvation, and mutilation are examples of violence.

● PRINCIPLES:
External, or commanded act, performed by a person is subjected to violence, to which reasonable
resistance has been offered, are involuntary, and not accountable.
voluntary.

The elicited act or those done by the will alone, are not subject to violence and are therefore
Active resistance should always be exerted toward any unjust aggressor. However, if resistance is
impossible, or if there are serious threats to one's life, a person confronted by violence can
integrity.

always offer internal resistance by withholding consent. This is enough to save one's moral
The human will is the spiritual faculty of a person. Hence, it is not within the reach of violence.
There are thousands of martyrs who had suffered death instead of surrendering their will to their tormentors

Habits
Habit is the readiness, born of frequently repeated acts, for acting in certain. Habits are acquired through
the repetition of an act over a period of time. They are either good or bad.
Habits become like second nature, moving one to do something with relative ease without much reflection.
They are difficult to overcome.

● Principle:
Actions done by a force of habit are voluntary in cause unless a reasonable effort is made to counteract the
inclination.

Habits are voluntary in a cause because they are the result of previously willed acts done repeatedly over a
period of time. Thus, every action resulting from habit partakes of the voluntariness of those previous
repeated acts. However, when a person exerts consistent efforts to counteract the habit, the actions
resulting from such habit are regarded as acts of man and, therefore, not accountable.

Those are the five modifiers of human acts that may increase or decreases the accountability of the doer
depending on the nature of the act. But the best thing to do for you not to be sanctioned by any form of
penalties or punishment is to do the right and moral things.
Remember that moral perfection comes from within.