In determining the morality of the act, each of the four aspect much be good or at least morally neutral.

If any one of them is morally bad, the act as a whole is morally vitiated.

One whole human act in its unity:

Concrete circumstances

Guiding intention

Proper structure

Foreseeable consequences

Principle of Dionysius, The Pseudo-Areopagite by St. Thomas

The good lies in the whole integral act, but evil comes from any singular defect.

The main points for consideration before conscience makes its practical judgment.

Man in his very being is openness to the good.

“Do good and avoid evil.”

The circumstances and the foreseeable consequences are precisely what conscience is about.

Conscience comes to a concluding judgment only upon the consideration of the four aspects.

Conscience acts in a continuing dialectic process through life.

First moment, man in his very being as openness to the good.

Second moment, man in his concrete situation reflects and comes to a practical judgment/

Third, acting and subsequently after acting, finds himself vis-à-vis a historical reality other than himself

Man’s dignity as moral being lies in the way he honestly perceives and intend the good.