MORAL VALUES IN HUMAN ACTS

SOURCES DEFINING MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS

The norm which determines the morality of human act is objectively the moral law and subjectively a person’s conscience.
HUMAN ACTS ARE MORALLY GOOD IF AGREEMENT WITH THESE NORMS AND HUMAN ACT IS MORALLY EVIL IF IN
DISAGREEMENT WITH THEM.
THE QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED HERE ARE THE ELEMENTS CALLED THE SOURCES OF THE MORALITY OF THE
HUMAN ACT. BECAUSE HUMAN ACT DERIVES ITS MORALITY FROM THE AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENTWITH THE
MORAL NORM.
THE ELEMENTS ARE THE OBJECT, CIRCUMSTANCES AND LASTLY INTENTION.
A HUMAN ACT IS GOOD IF ALL THREE ARE IN HARMONY WITH THE MORAL NORM. AND MORALLY EVIL IF ONE OF
THESE ELEMENTS OFFEND THE NORM OF MORALITY.
1.) THE OBJECT (FINIS OPERIS)
– the effect which action directly causes.
Human language identifies the various types of actions by certain words such as theft, abortion, lying, almsgiving, healing,
worship
The object are always the result of the act, independent of any circumstances or of the intention of the agent.
Ex:
- the object of a theft is always the appropriation of another person’s goods against his will
- the object of an abortion is always the forcible removal of the non-viable human being from the mother’s womb whether
it is done to avoid public shame or for therapeutic reasons.

The primary and direct effects of the human act are the physical, biological, and physiological changes. However, these changes
alone do not yield much for the Moral Evaluation of the Act. FOR YOU ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF AN
ACT ON RIGHTS AND CLAIMS OF A PERSON.
FOR EXAMPLE: IN THE OBJECT OF SALE IS NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL TRANSFER OF GOODS FROM ONE PLACE TO
ANOTHER. BUT ALSO, THE EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS ATTACHED TO THE GOODS. ALSO, THE OBJECT OF
AN ACT OF ADULTERY IS NOT ONLY THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECT BUT IS ALSO THE ASSUMPTION OF MARRIAGE
RIGHTS BY PARTNERS.

THE OBJECT IS REGARDED AS THE PRIMARY SOURCE FOR THE JUDGEMENT ON THE MORALITY OF AN ACT.
ACCORDING TO CATHOLIC MORAL HANDBOOKS, HUMAN ACTS CAN BE MORALLY GOOD, EVIL, OR INDIFFERENT.
INDIFFERENT
Defined as neither good nor bad;
- Taking a walk, playing of an instrument ; but it does not mean that the entire action is morally indifferent for the morality
still further depends on the circumstances and the intention.
Good intention does not suffice in order to make an evil action good.
For example according to Thomas Aquinas – let us say someone robs in order to feed the poor. Even though the intention is
good, the uprightness of the will is lacking. And no evil is done with a good intention can be excused for the man’s correct choice
of action is also needed for the human act depends on the object if that object is capable of being ordered to God. The One who
“alone is good”
However, more and more theologians have of late raised that if the intention of the person were to save himself of starvation, the
theft would be of permissible exception. Thus, theft is always an evil. But not absolutely and always a moral evil.
The traditional distinction between GOOD, INDIFFERENT and EVIL objects of the human act is certainly not without foundation.
Theft = bad, but these distinctions do not yet constitute moral qualifications but rather PRE-moral ones.
If a person gives alms In a irresponsible way to his family, it is after all not a morally good act. And if the purpose of theft is to
save one’s family from starvation, it is a lawful act in spite of the harm caused.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES
_ are particulars of the concrete human act which are not necessarily connected with its object.
Alms may be given by a poor or rich man in private or public.
Circumstances can vary without modifying the object of the act of almsgiving that always remains the same.
Not all circumstances exercise an influence on the morality of an act and most of them are indifferent.
Circumstances are morally relevant if they increase or decrease good or evil effects or bring about additional effects of evil
nature or at least are apt to occasions such effects with some likelihood.
For example, if profane dances are performed in a church, in that circumstance, the plane of the action is the church which is a
place to worship God, and is tampered with in this act, therefore the act is qualified as a sacrilege or violation.
Seven circumstances
WHO
WHAT
WHERE
WITH WHAT MEANS
WHY
HOW
WHEN
Circumstances can influence the morality of an action in the following ways.
In positive sense : a circumstance can make better an act good in its object. If a poor man gives alms, the act of charity is
greater.
In negative sense : The playing of a radio may become evil if it is so loud that it seriously disturbs others. The construction of a
chapel is a praiseworthy work. But if it is done with materials that are stolen, it is ultimately evil.