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Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU)
Rosario Tandag City, Surigao del Sur
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS AND MORAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Specific Learning Outcomes:
INTRODUCTION
When studying Ethics, it is a must for us to know the difference between Acts of Man and Human Acts. We have to discern one from the other because the moral accountability of the human person lies on it. It is when a human person is responsible for his/her actions, that’s the only time that we can say that a human person does human acts. Then, what is/are the difference/s between Human Acts & Acts of Man? Try asking yourself with these question: What is a human act? Acts of man? Differentiate one from the other. What are the determinants of the morality of human acts? What is the decisive factor in determining the morality of human action? What are the modifiers of human acts? Do I need to study this morality of human acts and moral accountability? Is it abstract to study these? Or something significant to human life? And How do I know whether my action is morally responsible?
A. ACTIVITIES
Module 1 Lesso n During the students' learning engagements, they will be able to:
- differentiate human acts and acts of man and cite examples of it
- identify and explain the major determinants of the morality of human acts
- explain and evaluate the principles governing each modifier of human acts
Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU)
Rosario Tandag City, Surigao del Sur
Write a list of specific actions that can be classified as human acts, as well as actions that can be considered as acts of man. Give reasons why that particular action is included in your list.
ACTS OF MAN HUMAN ACTS REASONS
Criteria
10 points- (each student) Clear judgment, precise explanations, and
feasible ideas
5 points-(each student) to each of the students who will participate
effectively and constructively relaying their knowledge to the class
B. ANALYSIS
1. What is Human Acts? 2. What is the Acts of man? 3. Which particular action do you always do as to classified as human acts?
C. ABSTRACTION
WHAT IS HUMAN ACT?
Human act “is an act which proceeds from the deliberate free will of man”. In ethics, the term deliberate “means merely advertence or knowledge in the intellect of what one is about and what this means.” The act then has to be advertently or knowingly done by the agent so that it may be called the human act (Glenn, p. 10). To be considered as a human act, the following elements must be present (Sambajon Jr., pp. 35-36) a.) Knowledge – means that the act is done in the light of an agent’s knowing faculty. He is aware and conscious of what he is doing. He knows what the performance of his act means b.) 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 action. In other words, the power resides in the will to choose to do or not to do an act. It is, therefore, a free act done without any element of force or coercion c.) 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. In other words, a voluntary
Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU)
Rosario Tandag City, Surigao del Sur
3.) There is no element of voluntariness. An act of man does not proceed from both knowledge and freedom, requiring no decision of the will to make the agent intend and willfully do such an act or not. It is an involuntary act. Glenn, P. (1968). Ethics: A Class Manual in Moral Philosophy. London: Herder Book Co., DETERMINANTS OF THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACT 1.) The Act itself refers to the deed done or performed. It is technically called the object or nature of the act. It is the primary determinant of morality. a.) 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 goodness or evil resides in the act itself b.) 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 two other determinants of morality. It is good as it is in itself c.) 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 God. It is evil in itself regardless of motive and circumstances. 2.) The motive of the agent refers to the end, purpose, or goal to be achieved by means of the act. It is done. In short, it is the intention of the agent in performing the act. 3.) The circumstances referred to the conditions in which the act is done affecting its morality in one way or another. They exist outside of the nature of the act and are not of the essence of the act. However, if they arise in the execution of an act, then circumstances can indeed “qualify it in its concrete performance.” They can increase or diminish the goodness of an act and can aggravate or mitigate the evil of an act a.) The circumstance of Person refers to the agent performing the act or to the person to whom the act is done b.) The circumstance of Quantity or Quality of the Act refers to “what is the extent of the act” c.) The circumstance of Place refers to the venue where the act is performed d.) 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 e.) The circumstance of Manner refers to the condition in which the act is done or how it is performed by the agent MODIFIERS OF HUMAN ACTS 1.) Ignorance is the absence of intellectual knowledge. We distinguish between vincible and invincible ignorance. Vincible ignorance cannot be dispelled or overcome by the due amount of diligence. Invincible ignorance cannot be overcome by any amount of diligence or effort because under the circumstances it is impossible for one to know.
Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU)
Rosario Tandag City, Surigao del Sur
PRINCIPLES:
a.) Invincible ignorance excuses and relieves the agent of responsibility Acts done in invincible ignorance are, therefore, not voluntary and the agent is not held responsible for them. Example: A Negrito who had been living all his life in the mountains, and who happened to come for Manila for the first time, and violated traffic laws, could not be held responsible for violating the law. b.) Vincible ignorance does not destroy or remove voluntariness, nor responsibility. Acts done invincible ignorance are still voluntary and the agent is still responsible for them. Example: A Manila resident who violated traffic laws, not knowing of such laws before, would still be responsible for his actions, because his ignorance is vincible. When we speak of ignorance, we mean usually vincible ignorance. That is why we say “ignorance of the law excuses no one,” because every citizen of age must and should know the law. The reason behind these two principles is that (1) when one is invincibly ignorant, the act he does then would be without knowledge ; and without knowledge, there can be no voluntariness; and hence, no responsibility. No one can consent to violate a law which he does know. In case of vincible ignorance, however, there is still culpability concerning one’s ignorance which is due to one’s negligence or omission; and consequently, there would still be accountability on the part of the doer for his action. His act of violating a law would still be voluntary at least in cause, i.e., indirect voluntary (Montemayor, pp. 24-25) 2.)Concupiscence Passions (technically called concupiscence) affect the voluntariness of an action. For a man, acting under the influence of a passion would not be acting perfectly of his own free volition. A man in a fit of anger, for, instance, is liable to do acts which otherwise he would not do in his right senses. We distinguish between antecedent and consequent concupiscence. The former is that type of concupiscence which occurs in us spontaneously without stimulating it; the latter one arises at the command or continues with the consent of the will. The first impulse is not free, and consequently not imputable to us. In as far as concupiscence impels the will, it restrains our liberty and thus lessons our responsibility. PRINCIPLES a.) Antecedent concupiscence lessens but does not remove voluntariness and responsibility
Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU)
Rosario Tandag City, Surigao del Sur
- How do you know whether your action is morally responsible?
- How do you find studying the morality of human acts and moral accountability contribute to our daily living?
1. On what moral grounds is the employment of violence justified?
2. Is an indirect voluntary act still voluntary? Justify answer
3. Is a drug addict still morally responsible for his acts over which he has
no more control? Explain your answer
4. Suppose there is no law against drug-pushing, would it be morally
right? Support your answer
5. Is one morally responsible for inflicting damages which he never
intended to cause another? Justify your answer.
1. Definition of Law and its Elements
2. Characteristics of True Law
3. Classes of Law
4. Definition and Types of Conscience
5. Formation of Conscience
Congratulation. You have just finished 4 Lessons of Module 1. In this lesson, you learned about the difference between Acts of man and Human acts. In the next Module lessons, you will learn about the application on ethics. Answer reflectively the following questions. Choose three questions to answer.Task 2 Research on the following topics: (Advance reading)Task 3
