Chapter III HUMAN ACT

Name: NIEL JOHN M. BANDADA

: BSSW 2A

Lesson 1
The Meaning of Human Act

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

Direction: Classify whether the given phrase refers to act of man ot human act. Write
1 for act of man and 2 for human act.

2 1. Deliberate
1 2. Happen "naturally"
1 3. Without reflection
2 4. Freely chosen
1 5. Automatic
2 6. Performed in freedom
2 7. Done voluntarily
1 8. Without consent
1 9. Thought out
1 10. Judgment of conscience

ACTIVITY

1. Classify the items either as human act or act of man. Write 1 for human act and 2 for act
of man.
2 1. breathing
2 2. blinking of the eyes
1 3. observing diet
2 4. dilation of the pupils of the eyes
2 5. perspiring
1 6. tutoring the slow learners
1 7. preparing for board exams
2 8. jerking of the knee
ANALYSIS

Study your list. What is common to the items under acts of man? under human act?
I observed the common items under acts of man is the act that happen naturally or it happened
without the consent or awareness of the body. For example, the breathing, blinking of the eyes,
perspiring and etc. are the act that it continuously acting. While the common items under human
act are the act that happen with the consent of our body and it is our wants to do that thing. For
example, observing diet, preparing for board exams are the act that we are aware to do that
because we have the consent to that thing.

REFLECTION

As a moral person, you perform human acts. What human act/s do you frequently
perform?

As moral person, I do perform human acts that are generally related to my studies and
goals in life. The human act do I frequently performed are I do perform my daily physical health
routine, answering my activities, reading books, praying and working in which it is my human
act that I perform in order to reach my goals in life. I do believe that through the human act that I
performed can help me to mold myself to become a better person or student and also it makes me
more moral as a person living in this world.
In conclusion base on my own learnings about this topic human act and act of man are
very vital in our everyday way of living that can help and teaches us on how to determine the
differences of human act and act of man. Honestly speaking I have no idea about the actions I
made in everyday of my life but as of now I learned a lot and I will be using my learnings to
spread and to share to other people so that I can be the one example or role model in the near
future.

Lesson 2 Accountability of Moral Act

Name: NIEL JOHN M. BANDADA

 : BSSW 2A

ACTIVITY

1. Read the story of Judas' betrayal of Jesus in Luke 22:1-53.

ANALYSIS

1. Could Judas be held answerable/accountable for having betrayed Jesus?

Judas could be accountable for betraying Jesus because he had knowledge and he know what he
was doing. He freely chooses to betray Jesus tempted by the thought of 30 pieces of silver. He
voluntarily and intentionally did it.

2. On what factors (at least three) would you base Judas accountability?

The factors would I base Judas accountability are the knowledge, freedom and voluntarily in
which he must done knowingly, where he’s having a knowledge on what he was doing. It must
have done freely, in which he chose to betrayed Jesus by tempted of 30 pieces of silver. And it
must done voluntarily or intentional in which he do it voluntarily.

REFLECTION

What are you doing to grow continuously in knowledge, in freedom and

voluntariness to be the moral person you are meant to be? Write your reflections here.
 As a young people in this generation, I willing to do my best to have a better knowledge
in which this knowledge can help me to mold myself from a negative aspect of my life to
become a positive one. I willingly applying knowledge to myself so that I can aware of bad and
good thing in myself and to the people in different places and situations. With that knowledge I
can be more respectful and responsible for my actions and emotions in doing a decision in life.
I growing continuously in freedom to be the moral person I meant to be when I deal
myself to have a perfect process in terms of exercising my power of choices. In which every
choice I would made or decide it can help me to have a freedom or to have a great value in
good things or opportunities that I would be facing in the near future. I would like to say that my
freedom of choices are based on my opinion or perceptions that hopefully help me in doing what
is good and right.
Lastly, growing continuously in voluntarily to be moral person I meant to be I deal myself
to voluntarily or intentionally aware of what is good and right. We should considered ourselves
in making a process of having an objectives, aims and purposes in doing something.
Therefore, in my conclusion this knowledge, freedom and voluntariness hopefully can
give as a great learnings to do what is must and what is right base on what we believe and see.
In which in this lesson, I learned a lot in terms of dealing or knowing what is best and what is
right specially for being a moral person.

Lesson 3 Feeling as a Modifier of Moral Decision-Making

Name: NIEL JOHN M. BANDADA

: BSSW 2A
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

1. Do feelings serve moral decision making? Explain your answer.

I do serve moral decision making in the sense that feelings is an emotional state or reaction,
experience of physical sensation,. Through feelings we can make decisions that are based on
what we feel or what are the emotions we are in the certain situations in different aspect of life.
Emotions may provide a way for coding and compacting experience, enabling fast response
selection. Decisions that start with logic may need emotions to enable the final selection,
particularly when confronted with near equal options. Emotions often drive us in directions
conflicting with self-interest.

2. When do feelings work against moral decision making? Explain.

The feelings work against moral decision when our feelings are ended with the wrong thing. We
make quick decisions without knowing why, and then create rational reasons to justify a poor
emotional decision. Intensity of emotions can override rational decision-making in cases where it
is clearly needed. Immediate and unrelated emotions can create mistakes by distorting and
creating bias in judgments. In some cases, this can lead to unexpected and reckless action.
Projected emotions can lead to errors because people are subject to systemic inaccuracy about
how they will feel in the future.

ACTIVITY

1. One sticker in a truck says: "If it feels good do it." What does this mean? Is this
always right?
In my point of view, the statement “If it feels good do it” it means that it is refers to something
that we desire to do or we wanted to do in which we can feel it with our emotions that if we are
very comfortable with that things or situations then it is good for ourselves. Therefore, for me, “
If it feels good do it” is not always right in the reason of not always good feelings are having a
good result in ourselves or to the people out there. Sometimes we are simply used our emotions
like for an examples we are feeling good in traveling with our friends because it gives us an
explainable feelings and it is good for us that’s why we always do that thing but without
knowing that our family are not comfortable with that decisions we had and it ended always in
misunderstanding.
2. Here are statements from a Filipina OFW in the USA. Read then answer the
questions below.

"I will never be able to forgive myself if I won't fly home to be with my family in my
father's death. I may not be able to talk to him anymore, you may find it impractical and
unreasonable but I have to fly home. If I don't, I will not feel whole at all."
If you were the Filipina nurse, would you decide and act the same way? Why?

If I were that Filipina nurse I would act the same way in the reason I wanted to attend the last
part moment of my father’s life in which I can able to see him and touch him physically. And
also, as his daughter I wanted to share my deepest sympathy and respect to his last moment of
his life.

ANALYSIS

1. What's wrong with "If it feels good, do it."?

In the statement “if it feels good, do it” it is wrong if we are aware to the feelings or perspective
of other people because if we feel good with that things for ourselves but not for other people
then it might brought an expected consequences that may led us to fail.
2. Would you consider the Filipina nurse's decision to fly home right? Why or why not?j
In my own opinion, I would consider the Filipina nurse’s decision to fly home because it is her
decisions and I will respect her choices in life. Showing our sympathy and condolences to the
person losing their beloved is one way of being respectful and thoughful in which we also care
their emotions and feelings. We must do our best to heal their broken heart from losing her
father.

REFLECTION

Recall a moral decision you made. Did you consider your feelings? Did you end up doing the
right thing or the wrong thing? If you ended up wrongly, why? Any lesson learned?
In my daily life, the moral decision I made that I consider my feelings is when I helping my
friends in doing his task or projects with that situations I consider my feeling and I feel it is good
that’s why I help him but the time goes by he always seek my help and I help him always but the
moment of truth he is using my kindness so that I can help him that’s why doing good is not
always last in some good things.
I might not end up with the good thing in my decisions I made but luckily I learned a
lessons that can help me to become wiser in making a decision or choosing a choices and
opportunity for myself. As I learned based on my personal experiences, we need to considered
our own capabilities in trusting other people because not all people we lend our help is the one
who can do good for us.
Therefore, I conclude that despite of what negativity happened on us, or what struggles
we encounter we need to trust the God’s will and it will help us to start over again and to face
another journey of our life.

Lesson 4 Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirements

for Morality

Name: NIEL JOHN M. BANDADA

: BSSW 2A

ACTIVITY

Read these arguments. Are these based on reason? Defend your answer.
 1. "You didn't even finish high school. How could you possibly know about this?"
No, this arguments are not based on reason because reasoning would avoids ad hominem, by not
attacking the personality of the opponent and instead directing one's argument against his idea.
2. I am filing for reconsideration of the offenses complained about. Since I am a well-
known athlete, I can make your University great again.
No, this arguments are not based on reason because reason does not resort to ad verecundiam,
appeal to authority, one's power and influence cannot make a wrong right.
3. Oh, Officer, there's no reason to give me a traffic ticket for going too fast because I was
just on my way to the hospital to bring blood bags to my dying child. They are needed in
a few minutes.
No, this arguments are not based on reason because reason avoids ad misericordiam, appeal
to pity, since appearing miserable does not improve an argument.
4. After Sally presents an eloquent and compelling case for a more equitable taxation
system, Sam asks the audience whether we should believe anything from a woman who
isn't married, was once arrested, and smells a bit weird.
No, this arguments are not based on reason because reasoning would avoids ad hominem, by not
attacking the personality of the opponent and instead directing one's argument against his idea.
5. Linus Pauling, winner of two unshared Nobel prizes, one for chemistry, another for
peace, stated his daily medication of Vitamin C delayed the onset of his cancer by twenty
years. Therefore, vitamin C is effective in preventing cancer.
No, this arguments are not based on reason because reason does not resort to ad verecundiam,
appeal to authority, one's power and influence cannot make a wrong right.

6. "UFOs are not real, because the great Carl Sagan said so." You haven't held a steady
job since 1992. Worse than that, we couldn't find a single employer who'd provide you
with a good reference."
No, this arguments are not based on reason because reason does not resort to ad verecundiam,
appeal to authority, one's power and influence cannot make a wrong right.

7. "People like you don't understand what it's like to grow up in the slums. You have no
right to argue about the gang violence on our streets."
No, this arguments are not based on reason because reason does not resort to ad verecundiam,
appeal to authority, one's power and influence cannot make a wrong right.

8. "Well, it's not like you graduated from a good school, so I can see why you wouldn't
know how to properly grade a writing assignment."
No, this arguments are not based on reason because reasoning would avoids ad hominem, by not
attacking the personality of the opponent and instead directing one's argument against his idea.

9. "You're clearly just too young to understand."

No, this arguments are not based on reason because reasoning would avoids ad hominem, by not
attacking the personality of the opponent and instead directing one's argument against his idea. In
which this statements refers to the argument that attacking person’s own abilities.

10. "How can you make a decision about someone having marital problems if you've never
been married yourself?"
No, this arguments are not based on reason because reason does not resort to ad verecundiam,
appeal to authority, one's power and influence cannot make a wrong right. In which this
statement are refers to the argument that questions your authority in making a reason. With that
point, they asking your reasons that are based on what status you are in life.

ANALYSIS

1. Which arguments are attack on the personality of the source of the argument?
 "You didn't even finish high school. How could you possibly know about this?"
 After Sally presents an eloquent and compelling case for a more equitable
taxation system, Sam asks the audience whether we should believe anything from
a woman who isn't married, was once arrested, and smells a bit weird.
 "Well, it's not like you graduated from a good school, so I can see why you
wouldn't know how to properly grade a writing assignment."

 "You're clearly just too young to understand."

2. Which are arguments are an appeal to pity?

 Oh, Officer, there's no reason to give me a traffic ticket for going too fast because
I was just on my way to the hospital to bring blood bags to my dying child. They
are needed in a few minutes.

3. Which argument/s is/are appeal to authority?

 I am filing for reconsideration of the offenses complained about. Since I am a
well-known athlete, I can make your University great again.
  Linus Pauling, winner of two unshared Nobel prizes, one for chemistry, another
for peace, stated his daily medication of Vitamin C delayed the onset of his
cancer by twenty years. Therefore, vitamin C is effective in preventing cancer.
 "UFOs are not real, because the great Carl Sagan said so." You haven't held a
steady job since 1992. Worse than that, we couldn't find a single employer who'd
provide you with a good reference."

 "People like you don't understand what it's like to grow up in the slums. You have
no right to argue about the gang violence on our streets."

 “How can you make a decision about someone having marital problems if you've
never been married yourself?"

4. Are these arguments based on reason?

 No, those are arguments that are not based on reason because if the answers to the
questions are a YES, then the moral choice or moral decision can be said to be a
product of reason, with that those arguments are not answerable by yes or no
that’s why it is not based on reason.

REFLECTION

Have you used reason and have you been impartial in your most recent moral decisions?

How have you applied creative responsibility in your approach to a moral problem?

In my current situations, I merely used reason in impartial in my most recent moral

decisions in life, in which reasons are the one basis in seeking an opportunity that enlighten my
life to the near future. In making a decisions we are free to choose what choices we could met
and what is the best for us, on what we valued about something valuable. And also identifying
the awareness of our choices can make us become comfortable in dealing with our moral
decisions in life.

In making approaches to a moral problem I applied a creative responsibility in

which it helps me more knowledgeable in dealing with difficulties in making a choices in
life. When a moral problem comes one's way, which may be communicated as a silent
or verbal message, or through a happening or an incident, the serious response would
be a process of moral reasoning. A creative and fitting response involves some form of
positive human action. To give a fitting human response in some form of positive action
inevitably means "create" a response. The creative responsibility is something to be
discovered and created and is best envisioned in concrete cases. A creative response
means one has to choose from among many possible fitting responses. It is impossible
to find only one possible fitting response to a human situation. In order that creative
response of the individual be authentic he must be in constant dialogue with the
community and culture in which he lives. Creative responsibility is not only individual but
collective; it is co-responsibility.
Creative responsibility is responding silently or verbally to a call and address an
ethical problem creatively by considering all possible points of view, thinking outside the
box, using relevant frameworks. There are always available norms or rules to follow, but
one should apply them creatively, apply them in the light situations and conditions and
be ready to bend the rule where there is no other remedy in sight. It is easier to
understand this concept from a wider point of view, like that of a ruler or government.
One technique of coming up with a creative response is applying the phenomenological
method of suspending judgment, placing former knowledge, biases, prejudices, etc.
between bracketsletting the thing be or show itself as itself.

Lesson 5 The Difference Between Reason and Will

Name: NIEL JOHN M. BANDADA
: BSSW 2A

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

1. Distinguish the roles of intellect and free will.

The roles of intellect are to permeate the illusion of free will, by analyzing the process that feels
like free will. Thoughts arise and have an immediate effect on our actions, unless another
thought rises with an altering or countering content. Free will is the ability to choose between
different possible courses of action unimpeded, the power or right to act, speak, or think as one
wants. It is the power of self-determination. When the will is free, there is freedom. Free will is a
multi-dimensional power, energy, or strength. One is free to the degree that he has energy, that
is, physically free to the degree that he is physically strong; materially or economically free to
the degree that he is materially or economically strong, and so on.

2. According to Tillich, Kierkegaard and Hornedo, how can the will be strengthened?
According to Kierkegaard “Purity of heart is to will one thing." but to "will one thing" needs
courage. According to Paul Tillich (1952), "courage is self-affirmation 'in-spite-of,' that is in
spite of that which tends to prevent the self from affirming itself." Courage is "the affirmation of
being inspite of non-being." This implies affirming, accepting oneself inspite of one's defects,
lack, or imperfections, affirming the world we live in inspite all that it lacks. "Our greatest glory
is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." Courage is not giving up because of
setbacks and failures. It is keeping right on keeping on. In politics, courage is affirming or
accepting one's people inspite of their ignorance, poverty. Political will means the courage to
promote the greatest good of the greatest number inspite of their selfishness, greed, and unruly
behavior. Commitment, engagement, fidelity, authentic existence are all forms of "affirmation of
being inspite of non-being." Courage is affirming the world inspite of its tragedies. The last line
in Desiderata says it so, "(w)ith all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful
world."

ACTIVITY

1. Observe and study the driftwood below.

Driftwood at Sea
 a) To which direction is the driftwood going?
 to the right side nor to the left side because driftwood would depend to where the
water takes it.
b) When can you or any person be like the driftwood?
 a person be like the driftwood is someone has trouble in making decisions.

ANALYSIS

1. In what sense is an indecisive person considered a driftwood?

An indecisive person considered a driftwood when it comes in dealing with making a
decision in which indecisive person are the one who are troubled in making decision. People who
are only somewhat indecisive may take their time with decisions and want to consider their
options before moving ahead. Extremely, indecisive person may keep waffling on choices that
have already been made- or even put off making decisions for so long that they run out of time.
As we can see to the picture, we could figure out that driftwood could depend to the wave of the
ocean in which where ever the water takes it driftwood would be follow it and it will be
depending instantly.

REFLECTION

Like St. Paul have you also experienced knowing the good to do but ended up doing the
opposite of the good that you know? What have you been doing to strengthen your will?

We could imagine that life is very meaningful and full of surprises. I could say that it full
of surprises because we face different battles in our life; problems, trials and challenges that
makes us weaker to stronger one. In dealing with our problems in different situations in life we
ended up in decisions that not good in return. Base on my experience, doing good thing is not
really good for everybody in which we could say to our self that it is good but definitely not
because it also depends on what the people think for you and sometimes people can see what
the goodness brings on you.
In order to strengthen my will, I my balance my choices into good and think what are the
possible consequences that are based to the choices I made. I truly believe that what my will is
could depend on what my choices only because it is the power of self-determination. When
the will is free, there is freedom.
In my point of view, knowing free will could bring us an understanding what is the
right and good choices that ended in good one so that we could met the freedom of our
choices.