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On Human Acts2ndsem2019-2 PDF
On Human Acts2ndsem2019-2 PDF
We have two kinds of morality side by side: one which we preach but do not practice
and another which we practice but seldom preach.”
–Bertrand Russell
“We have two kinds of morality side by side: one which we preach but do
not practice and another which we practice but seldom preach.”
–Bertrand Russell
What constitutes human acts?
Knowledge
Freedom
Voluntariness
2. Freedom
choices are available
freedom of choice
freedom to commit or omit the act
freedom from & freedom to
Type of Voluntariness
direct
indirect
perfect
imperfect
conditional
simple
Types of voluntariness
Direct voluntariness is present in an act which is intended in itself either
as an end or as a means to an end.
A man who works hard to buy a car intends the act of working as
a means to being able to buy a car.
Indirect voluntariness refers to a situation or consequence which is
indirectly willed.
A person who smokes indirectly willed lung cancer as a
consequence of his act. A person is responsible for an act done under
indirect voluntariness.
Perfect voluntariness accompanies an act that is done with knowledge
and willfulness of the consequence of the act.
Telling a lie is perfectly voluntary. A lie is a pre-meditated act
with the intention to deceive or mislead, to conceal the truth under the
cloak of deceit.
Types of voluntariness
Imperfect voluntariness occurs when a person does not fully know and
intend the act.
A person who surrenders his cellphone to an armed robber under
grave threats does so under imperfect voluntariness.
Simple voluntariness is present when a person willfully performs an act
that he either likes or dislikes.
Human actions are not always fully knowing, free, and willful.
Human acts may be influenced by emotions or sentiments. Hence they are
called modifiers of human acts:
1. ignorance
2. concupiscence (11 human passions)
3. fear
4. violence
5. habit
1. Ignorance is defect, absence, or lack of knowledge. Ignorance is either
vincible (simply vincible, crass, affected) or invincible.
Vincible ignorance refers to the absence of knowledge which can
be corrected by simple diligence. Moral responsibility applies to a human
act modified by vincible ignorance.
Invincible ignorance is the absence of knowledge which no amount
of diligence can dispel. This type of ignorance is caused either by the
person’s ignorance of his own ignorance or his total inability to overcome.
Since invincible ignorance is unconquerable, it does not result in moral
responsibility.
2. Concupiscence refers to the eleven human passions, namely, love,
hatred, joy, grief, desire, aversion, hope, despair, courage, fear, anger.
Passions are either antecedent or consequent.
Antecedent passions arise naturally without intentional
stimulation of our affects. (without moral responsibility)
Consequent passions are those that are deliberately nurtured and
retained by the will. (with moral responsibility)
3. Fear Fear, one of the passions under concupiscence, but is given
special attention because it affects the will in terms of committing and
omitting an act. Fear is defined as the “shrinking back of the mind from
danger.” A person who is confronted with an evil that he cannot avoid
experiences fear. A sailor, who is caught in the midst of a storm in the
middle of the ocean, yet continues to sail toward his destination, acts
with fear. A sailor, who is caught by a storm and decides to sail back,
acts from fear. A young lady who was ordered to surrender her cellphone
at gun point, acts out of grave fear. Acts done with and from fear are
voluntary. Any evil that arises from these acts is not totally excusable.
However, acts done out of grave fear releases a person from moral
responsibility.
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be
their God, and they will be my people.” (Jer. 31:33)
“They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts,
their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes
accusing them and at other times even defending them.” (Rom 2:15)
States of Conscience
Different persons have different states of conscience. Every
person, too, will have, at different times and circumstances, a particular
state of conscience. The following are the different states of
conscience:
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be
their God, and they will be my people.” (Jer. 31:33)
“They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts,
their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes
accusing them and at other times even defending them.” (Rom 2:15)