MORAL ACCOUNTABILITY

 Human acts, because they are voluntary, are accountable acts. Actions are imputed on
the doer as its principal cause and, therefore, deserving of either reward or punishment
Subject of Human Acts
Business organizations, institutions, associations, or unions which are constituted by law as
juridical person are also subject of human acts. Like the individual person, these organizations
can sue and be sued for their actions.
is any person who is capable of acting intelligently and freely.
A Captain of a ship who assumes full responsibility for the ship and its cargo. A Person
accountable for his decisions and actuations. A person is either guilty or innocent, deserving or
undeserving of punishment
Hatefully, wicked or shockingly Evil.
Sanctions and Penalties

 The Penal laws of the country provide for a system of punishment for wrongdoings,
ranging from fines to imprisonment. The capital punishment or death penalty is reserved
for heinous crimes.
Moral Accountability
Did the Captain of the Titanic cry?
Heinous crime - is a willful crime punishable in law by death penalty (in some countries/regions)
and unacceptable in society as extremely evil & cruel crime.
Responsibility - is the ability of a person to respond to a need or problem in a situation. That
ability to respond is an internal quality of a person, which is free and voluntary yet morally
obligatory in himself.
HUMAN ACT ELEMENTS
The Act in Itself
An act is a physical tendency towards a definite result (end of an act). Some actions are bad
because they produce evils as hunger, pain, illness, or death. In the moral sense, actions are
bad because they disturb the harmony within the acting person.
2. The Motive is the motive or reason why a person performs an act.
3. Circumstances of an Act

 An act is an event. It happens in a definite time and place. It is accompanied by certain

elements (Circumstances) which contribute to the nature and accountability of such act.
Morality takes into account the circumstances surrounding the act.

The Modifiers of Human act

Modifiers of Human act is also called "Obstacles of Human" that affects or prevents a clear
knowledge of the object of the act. Or impair the coming about of a human act in its roots by
diminishing or preventing the consent of free will.
 These obstacles may increase, decrease, or totally inhibit human behavior from moral
responsibility or liability.
 Ito ang “nagtuturing” or “nagpapabago” ng gawaing pantao.“Nababawasan ang
pagkakusa ng ginawa.”
1) IGNORANCE is the absence of knowledge which a person ought to posses. There two
kinds of ignorance;
a. Vincible ignorance one which can easily be corrected through ordinary diligence
b. Invincible ignorance is one which is not easily remedied, because person either
not aware of his state of ignorance, or, being aware I, does not have the means
to rectify such ignorance.
2) PASSION, OR concupiscence, are psychic responses. They are either tendencies
towards desirable objects (positive emotion such as love, desire, delight, hope and
bravery), or tendencies away from undesirable objects ( negative emotion such as htred,
horror, sadness, despair, fear and anger.
a. Antecedent passion comes from natural reaction to and object or stimulus
without being aroused intentionally.
b. Consequent passion it is the result of an causes it to be aroused.
3) FEAR is the disturbance of the mind of a person who is confronted by danger to himself
or loved ones
4) VIOLENCE is physical force exerted on a person by free agent for the purpose of
compelling said person to act against his will
The Will is spiritual faculty is not within the reach of violence. There thousands of
martyrs who had suffered death instead of surrendering their will to their tormentors
5) HABITS is the readiness, born of frequently repeated acts, for acting in a certain
manner.It is acquired through the repetition of a act over a period of time,They are eithrt
good or bad
6) POVERTY is never an excuse for committing a crime just as wealth does not justify
abuses. It is a social evil which must be corrected by the state/
Reading:
THE VIRTUE OF TEMPERANCE
Virtue is not something abstract, detached from life, but, on the contrary, it has deep "roots" in life itself, it
springs from the latter and forms it. Virtue has an impact on man's life, on his actions and behaviour. It
follows that, in all these reflections of ours, we are speaking not so much of the virtue as of man living
and acting "virtuously"; we are speaking of the prudent, just and courageous man, and finally, precisely
today, we are speaking of the "temperate" (or "sober") man.

  The term "temperance" itself seems in a certain way to refer to what is "outside man". We say, in fact,
that a temperate man is one who does not abuse food, drinks, pleasures, who does not drink alcohol to
excess, who does not deprive himself of consciousness by the use of drugs, etc. This reference to
elements external to man has its basis, however, within man. It is as if there existed in each of us a
"higher self" and a "lower self". In our "lower self", our "body" and everything that belongs to it is
expressed: its needs, its desires, its passions of a sensual nature particularly. The virtue of temperance
guarantees every man mastery of the "lower self" by the "higher self". Is this a humiliation of our body? Or
a disability? On the contrary, this mastery gives higher value to the body. As a result of the virtue of
temperance, the body and our senses find the right place which pertains to them in our human condition.

A temperate man is one who is master of himself. One in whom passions do not prevail over reason, will,
and even the "heart". A man who can control himself! If this is so, we can easily realize what a
fundamental and radical value the virtue of temperance has. It is even indispensable, in order that man
may be fully a man. It is enough to look at some one who, carried away by his passions, becomes a
"victim" of them—renouncing of his own accord the use of reason (such as, for example, an alcoholic, a
drug addict)—to see clearly that "to be a man" means respecting one's own dignity, and therefore, among
other things, letting oneself be guided by the virtue of temperance.

Exercise 3(Write your answer in a short clean band paper and write it legibly with STRICLY NO
ERASURE (encoded is not allowed). Follow the format)

Name: _________________________________ Date: __________

Course/Section ___________________ Score

Exercise No.3

1. Why we accountable for our actions?

2. What is the penalty for immoral acts?
3. Who are accountable for their moral acts
4. Explain Ignorance of the law excuses no one”
5. How should we manage our passion?

Right Rev. Msgr. Paul J. Glenn, Ethics: A Class Manual in Moral Philosophy, (B. Herder Book Company:
Philippine Copyright, 1968)

Ramon B. Agapay, Ethics and the Filipino: A Manual on Moral for Student and Educators, Second
Edition, National Book Store, Copyright 2008

http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/1978/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_19781122.html

https://prezi.com/5f6znb9qokst/the-human-acts/
THE ENDS OF HUMAN ACT
Man does not aimlessly. His every action is done for a purpose. The purpose of human acts is
significant because it defines the nature of an act and reveals the moral judgement of the doer
The meaning of end
End- The “end” means the purpose or goal of an act. It’s either the end of the act or the end of
the doer.

 The end of the act: Natural termination or completion of an activity

 The end of the doer: Is the motive or reason why a person performs an act.
. The Motive of an Act
The motive of an act is the purpose which is the doer wishes to achieve by such action. It is
what gives direction and motivation to an act. It comes first in the mind as intention and occurs
last in the action as its culmination or fulfillment
Kind of End
 1. The proximate and remote end. The proximate end is the purpose which a doer
wishes to accomplish immediately by his actions. The remote end is the purpose which a
doer wishes to accomplish in a series of acts It is the purpose which a doer wishes to
accomplish immediately by his actions.
2. Intermediate and the Ultimate End. Intermediate is the purpose which is desired as a
means for obtaining another thing. Ultimate end is the purpose which is desired for its
own sake and not because of something else.
Action and Motivation
. The Motive of an Act
The motive of an act is the purpose which is the doer wishes to achieve by such action. It is
what gives direction and motivation to an act. It comes first in the mind as intention and occurs
last in the action as its culmination or fulfillment
The following principles describe human activity
1. Every action is performed for the sake of a definite end purpose.
2. Every action is intended towards an ultimate goal
3. Every doer moves himself towards an end which he thinks suitable to him.
END AS SOMETHING GOOD
The concept of end coincides of that of good. According to Aristotle, good means either: good
as an end itself or good as a means to another end. Apparent good – it is evil viewed or
disguised as good. When someone desires evil as an end, it is only because he views it,
subjectively, as something good. Every human activity is intended for the attainment of
something good.
Kind of Good
1. Essential and Accidental
a. Essential good satisfy the need of person as human being like food, shelter etc
b. Accidental good satisfies the wants of the person because of his particular
situation
2. Real and Apparent
a. Real good is anything which has intrinsic value like activities, relationship etc
b. Apparent good is an evil which viewed subjectively as something of value, such
as cigarette, prohibited drugs and vices
3. Perfective and Non-Perfective
a. Perfective good –is that which contributes to integral growth or development of
a person such as education, virtue, food sports and medicines
b. Non perfective good is anything which merely contribute to the external
appearance or convenience of a person such as expensive clothes, money, title
or car
4. Perfect and Imperfect
a. Perfect is real good endowed with all essential qualities needed to satisfy a need
b. Imperfect anything lacking in some qualities is imperfect: all material things are
imperfect
The Greatest Good
In every activity, man seeks that which is good. the greatest good is a matter of act. this is
evident in our concern for the best in everything: best friends, best parents, best foods, best
performance, best job and so forth.
In the language of the philosophers, the greatest good is Summum Bonum. For Aristotle, the
greatest good is happiness. Happiness is what man aims to achieve in all his activities. The
ultimate purpose of life is the attainment of happiness. As a psychological state, happiness is
the feeling of contentment arising from the possession of a good.
The Meaning of Happiness
Happiness is either objective or subjective. Objectively, happiness refers to something having
intrinsic value and capable of satisfying human needs. Subjectively, it is psychological state of
the feeling contented resulting from attainment of that which is good itself.
What people desire?
1. Some people regard money or the acquisition of themselves wealth as the ultimate aim
of their life
2. Some people regard health and physical beauty as foremost in importance.
3. Some people indulge themselves in worldly pleasure
4. Some people seek fame and power
5. Some people would want to dedicate themselves to the cultivation of arts and sciences
6. Some people would consecrate themselves to the religious life
Natural Happiness is that which attainable by man through the use of his natural power
Supernatural happiness is that which is attainable by man through his own power aided by the
infusion of the grace from God.
The Ultimate Purpose is the possession of the absolutely greatest good. The greatest good in
this earthly life consist of all values, both materials and spirit development as a human being,
which contribute to man’s
The highest good according to Aristotle, pertains to the intellect, so he proposes that the
ultimate purpose man in life is the contemplation of truth. The fullness of knowledge is attainable
through the practice of virtue. Aristotle states that Even if happiness is not sent form heaven, but
comes through virtue and learning ot training, it seems that is one of the most godlike things.
ETHICAL THEORIES
1. Hedonism is based on the teaching of Epicus who regards pleasure as the ultimate good
of man, and pain is an evil to be avoided.
2. Aristotelianism proclaims the supremacy of reason over man’s power appetites. The
highest good of man is the contemplation of divine truths
3. Thomism is based on the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas. It is holds that the ultimate
purpose of man consists in the Beatific Vision of God which is possible only in the next
life and only with the aid of supernatural grace of God
 4. Utilitarianism defines pleasure as that which gives the greatest happiness for the
greatest number of people. Stuart Mill said that pleasure itself is good, but even better
when it experienced by the most number of people
5. Evolutionism proceeds from biological theories of Charles Darwin that the greatest is the
rearing of the greatest number of individuals, with perfect faculties, under given
circumstances
6. Existentialism laments the inadequacy of reason to guide man in the complexities. The
attainment of personal fulfillment is the ultimate purpose of one’s life depends largely on
one’s faith and personal conviction. Existentialist either theistic or atheistic. Notable
existentialist Blaise Pascal, Jean Paul Sartre and others
Quiz 1: Identification: Write your answer in clean short band paper, STRICTLY NO ERASURE
________________1. Evil viewed as goo
________________2. The good that fits a natural need of man as man
________________3. A good contributing to perfection
________________4. What a doer wishes to attain by his actions
________________5. What everyone wants in all his actions
________________6. What philosophers call the greatest good
________________7. The natural termination of an act
________________8. Perfection is possible by man’s pwer
________________9. What we want as a means towards another goal
________________10. An end desired for its own sake
________________11. That which is suitable to man
________________12. The reason why we act
________________13. Something described as “want”
________________14. The good that fits man’s rational soul
________________15. Happiness possible with God’s help
________________16. The quality making things desirable
________________17. The means by which attain the good
________________18. Something which good in itself
________________19. What we need biologically
________________20. What various people regard as greatest good
Ramon B. Agapay, Ethics and the Filipino: A Manual on Moral for Student and Educators,
Second Edition, National Book Store, Copyright 2008
https://prezi.com/5f6znb9qokst/the-human-acts/
Moral Determinants of Human Acts
OBJECT OF THE ACT - Substance/nature of the action - Good which the will deliberately
directs itself
OBJECT specifies the “act of the will” - Nature of what was done to its distinct species - “What
was performed by the moral agent?” - “An object if the act is Good when it is in conformity with
reason or when it fulfills or fits the demand of reason. Otherwise, the object of the act is evil.
” An axioms says – “Bonum ex integra causa, malum ex quocumque defectu, that is, a things is
good from the perfection of its psrt, evil from any defect of its part. A human act, in order to ne
morally acceptable, must be perfect in all aspects.

1. HUMAN ACTS are neutral in themselves but they acquire morality when we speak of: 1.
OBJECT OF THE ACT 2. CIRCUMSTANCE 3. INTENTION
1. THE END OF THE ACT – is natural termination or completion of an act. . The
end of the act of eating is appeasing hunger, the end of playing basketball is
scoring point, and the of medication is curing illness The end of the Doer
2. THE END OF THE DOER is the purpose or motives which the doer wishes to
accomplish by his action. Without a motive, an act is accidental and involuntary.
A good motive is truthful, prudent, temperate, and just.
“The Ends does not justify the Means” is a fundamental moral principle. It affirms
that one should not do wrong (means) in order to attain a good purpose (end)
Motivation and Action

 An evil act which is done on account of an evil motive is grievously wrong

 A good action done on account of an evil motive becomes evil itself.
 A good action done on account of a good purpose aquires an additional
merit
 An indifferent act may either become good or bad depending on the
motive
3. CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACT are the historical elements surrounding the
commission of an act, such as the status of the doer, the place, the time or the
intensity of an act.
The circumstances are hinted by the interrogative pronounce
a. Who refers either to the doer of the act or the recipient of the act
b. What refers to the act itself, or to the quality and quantityof the results of
such act.
c. Where refers to the place where the act is committed
d. With whom refers to the companion or accomplices in an act.
e. Why refers to the motive of thru doer, as discussed earlier
f. How refers to the manner the act is perpetrated
g. When refers to the time of the act. A murder committed when the victim is
sleeping is more offensive than the one done when he victim is wide
awake.
Circumstantial factor
  Circumstance may either increase pr decrease the wrongfulness of an
evil act.

 Circumstances also may either increase or decrease the merit of a good

act

 Circumstances mat exempt temporarily someone from doing required act

 Circumstances do not prove the guilt

The Morally Good act is that which sound in all aspects in its nature, motive, and circumstances.
A morally good action, therefore is a”just act – “makatarungan

 Modify acts either by increasing or diminishing of the moral goodness or

evilness of an act/ responsibility of the agent

 Lighten or aggravate the weight of moral accountability of the performer

 The circumstance do not change the specific nature of the human act
The definition of Law
Law , according to St. Thomas Aquinas, is an ordinance of reason, promulgated for
the common good by one who has charge society.

 “ordinance if reason “because they are results of serous study, deliberation, public
debate.
 “promulgated” because they are made known to the people who are bound to observe
them
 “for the common good “because the purpose of the law is the general welfare of the
people.
 “who has charge of society’ “because only those who have legitimate authority to govern
may pass laws.
Kind of Laws
1. Divine Positive Laws – are those made known to men by God like the Decalogue (Ten
Commandments) given to Moses.
2. Human Positive Laws – are those made by legitimate human authority, such as the
laws enacted by the State or the Church. It is intended to preserve peace and order and
to direct members to works towards the common good.
3. Affirmative and Negative Laws it is both divine and human positive laws
a. Affirmative laws are those that require the performance of an act, like that of
giving respect to parents and that paying of taxes when due.
b. Negative laws are those that prohibit the performance of an act, like the
prohibition against smoking in designated public area.
Binding in Conscience
Moral laws are those derived from natural law. They are the inherent and essentials of
human nature so they are thought as being written in the hearts of men. They regulate thoughts
and feelings.
 Moral laws are enforced by personal commitment in the absence of the threat of corporal
punishment or sanctions.It is bin to conscience becaust they impose pon the person a moral
obligation to accept the law and comply with it.
On the other hand, human laws regulate only the external acts when these are
manifested and observed. Human laws do not bind in conscience and are purely penal, that is,
they are enforced by police power and justice is served when the culprit suffers punishment.
Popoerties of Law
1. A human law must conform with divine laws
2. A human law must promote the common good.
3. A human law must not discriminate against certain individual or groups
4. A human law must be practicable
5. A human law must be flexible
6. A law must be amendable.
Reading:
The reality of Evil
There are good actions and there are evil actions. Their realities do not come from the mind in
spite of some people saying evil is all in the mind”.
Some people do not see evil, accept it is as something normal”, or identify it somethings else.
Some, for example, would regard pornography as an art. Some think gambling and prostitution
as means of livelihood. A terrorist believes the murdering unbelievers is fulfilling God’s Will. A
government office believes accepting bribe is privilege of his office.
A pile of garbage is garbage even if the scavenger were to say it is good. Garbage represents
what is ugly, dirty, and bad in the surrounding. In contrast, a rose garden stands for what is
clean, beautiful, and wholesome. Therefore, only he who is intellectual dishonest would claim
ëvil is only in the mind”, implying that evil is something imaginary, an illusion.
The expression “äng masama ay nasa isip lang should not mean that evil is a fiction. It should
mean rather that an evil act begins in the mind as an evil thought and is translated into an
immoral act. Indeed, the mind us “the devil’s workshop”.
Exercise No. 4 (STRICTLY NO CP\OPYING IF ANSWERS)
Answer the following briefly
1. What factors determine the moral quality of an act?
2. When is an action a just act”?
3. Explain “the ends does not justify the means”.
4. Why do we need laws