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Chapter-7-Morality-and-Human-Acts

Human Acts

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Leslee Mae Guanlao
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11 views21 pages

Chapter-7-Morality-and-Human-Acts

Human Acts

Uploaded by

Leslee Mae Guanlao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Prepared by: Ms. Denny Vell M.

Devaras, RPm
Human Acts vs. Acts of Man
Human Acts
● Actions performed with knowledge and freewill
● helping someone in need, apologizing for a mistake, or
choosing to tell the truth in a difficult situation

Acts of Man
● Actions that are more instinctive or involuntary things we
do without necessarily making a conscious decision
● sneezing or blinking, or instinctive responses like pulling
your hand away from a hot surface
Elements of Human Acts
● Knowledge – the person is aware of what they are
doing.
● Freedom – the ability to make a choice without coercion
and it makes the doer responsible for their acts
● Voluntariness – the action is done willingly and
intentionally
Characteristics of Human Acts
Intention: This is the purpose or goal of the act.
• Giving money to someone out of kindness has a different moral
quality than giving money to bribe them.

Object of the Act: This refers to the action itself.


• Telling the truth is inherently good, while lying is inherently bad.
Characteristics of Human Acts
Circumstances: These are the factors surrounding the act that can
influence its morality.
• Stealing is generally considered wrong, but if someone steals food
to prevent their child from starving, the circumstance can affect
our moral evaluation of the act.

Consequences: The outcomes of the act also play a role in


determining its morality.
• If an action causes harm to others, it might be considered morally
bad, even if the intention was good.
Good vs. Evil Acts
● An act is good when the intention,
object, circumstance and
consequences are all good.
● Evil acts are those that violate human
nature
Classification
of Human Acts
01
Acts of Will
actions that are driven by a person's desire
or intention (freewill)
Acts of Will: Elicited Acts
Elicited Acts - initiated, performed and completed by will alone.
• Wish: This is a desire for something that may or may not be
attainable.
 wishing to visit a far-off country.
• Intention: This is a commitment to carrying out an action in the
future.
 intending to start a new exercise routine.
• Counsel: This is the process of deliberating or considering
different options before making a decision.
 Weighing the pros and cons of a job offer.
Acts of Will: Elicited Acts
• Choice: This is the act of deciding on a course of action after
deliberation.
 choosing to accept a job offer after considering it.
• Command: This is the will directing the other powers of the soul
to carry out the chosen action.
 telling yourself to start drafting a resignation letter for your
current job.
• Fruition: This is the enjoyment or satisfaction derived from a good
that has been chosen and acquired.
 feeling contentment and happiness in your new job.
Acts of Will: Commanded Acts
Commanded Acts – Acts of will that are carried out by the mind and body as
ordered by the will
• Internal Acts: These are actions carried out within the mind under the
direction of the will.
 making a decision or forming a judgment
• External Acts: These are physical actions that are directed by the will.
 speaking, running, or writing.
• Mixed Acts: These are actions that involve both internal and external
elements.
o Expressing love for someone might involve internal feelings (an
internal act) and physical expressions like hugging or saying "I love
you" (external acts).
02
Acts of
Reason
actions that are driven by logical
thinking and rational decision-
making.
Norms of Human Acts
Moral Norms – rules of morality that people ought
to follow
• Conscience – inner voice that tells a person to
do what is good and avoid what is evil
• Law – a rule of conduct enacted by competent
figures of authority for the sake of common good
Classification of Laws
Divine Laws - believed to be given by a higher power or deity, often
interpreted through religious texts and teachings.
• the Ten Commandments in Christianity or the Five Pillars of Islam.
Human Laws - created by human beings and societies to regulate behavior and
maintain order within a community or nation.
• traffic laws or tax laws.
Temporal Laws - laws that are bound by time and change as society evolves.
• laws about who can vote, which have expanded over the years to include more
people.
Eternal Laws - unchanging and universal laws, often associated with the
concept of divine law.
• the law of non-contradiction in philosophy, which states that something cannot
be both true and not true at the same time.
Classification of Laws
Natural Laws - These are inherent principles of morality and justice that exist
independently of human-made laws.
• the idea that murder is wrong.
Positive Laws - These are human-made laws that have been "posited" or
formally written down, such as statutes or regulations
• A city ordinance requiring residents to recycle could be a positive law.
Affirmative Laws - These laws require citizens to perform specific actions
• These are laws that require action, such as a law requiring car owners to
have auto insurance.
Negative Laws - These laws prohibit certain actions
• like laws against theft or assault.
Classification of Laws
Moral Laws - These are principles that govern the conduct of
individuals based on a sense of right and wrong.
• someone might have a personal rule always to tell the trut

Penal Laws - laws that prescribe penalties or punishments for


specific actions considered harmful or damaging.
• robbery or fraud are penal laws.
Modifiers of Human Acts
1. Ignorance - lack of knowledge or awareness

4 kinds of Ignorance:
● Ignorance of the law - lack of knowledge about laws or rules
 a person might not know that it's illegal to jaywalk in a certain area.
However, in many legal systems, ignorance of the law is not typically
accepted as an excuse for breaking it.
● Ignorance of the Fact- lack of knowledge about a specific situation or
circumstance
 a person might unknowingly sit in a reserved seat because they weren't
aware of the reservation.
● Vincible Ignorance - ignorance that could be remedied with
reasonable effort
 if a person doesn't know the speed limit but there are clearly
posted signs
● Invincible Ignorance - ignorance that couldn't be remedied,
even with reasonable effort
 if a person doesn't know about a local custom in a foreign country
that isn't widely known or documented, their ignorance could be
considered invincible.
Modifiers of Human Acts
2. Passion or Concupiscence - Strong emotions can influence a
person's actions and potentially lessen their responsibility
 someone who acts out of intense fear or anger may not be fully in control of
their actions.

2 Types of Passion:
● Antecedent - an emotion or passion that precedes the act of the will
● Consequent - an emotion or passion that follows an act of the will
Modifiers of Human Acts
3. Fear – instinct might something which engenders to self-reservation
● if someone gives their wallet to a robber out of fear for their life, their
action (handing over the wallet) is influenced by fear.

4. Violence- actions taken under duress or force.

5. Habits - Habits can influence our actions and potentially lessen our
moral responsibility, especially if the habit is deeply ingrained and difficult
to break.
Questions?

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