MORAL DISTINCTION

“DICTATES OF REASON”-Stands for the norm of

morality which is the standard by which actions are
judged as to their merits or demerits.
CLASSIFICATION OF ACTIONS ACCORDING TO THE
NORMS OF MORALITY
1. MORAL (GOOD) - Are those actions which are in the
conformity with the norm of morality.
2. IMMORAL (BAD)-Are those actions which are not in
conformity with the norm of morality.
3. AMORAL (INDIFFERENT) - Are those actions which
stand neutral in relation to the norm of morality. They are
neither good nor bad in themselves. But certain amoral
action may become good or bad because of the
circumstances attendant to them.
VOLUNTARINESS
Voluntariness comes from the Latin Word “Voluntas”
referring to the will. Voluntariness is essential to an act.
Without it, an act is a mere act of a man.
CLASSIFICATION OF VOLUNTARINESS
1. PERFECT VOLUNTARINESS - Is present in a person who
fully knows and fully intends an act.
2. IMPERFECT VOLUNTARINESS - Is present in a person
who act without fully realizing what he means to do, or
without intending the act.
3. CONDITIONAL VOLUNTARINESS - Is present in a person
who is forced by circumstances beyond his control to perform
an act which he would not do under normal condition.
4. SIMPLE VOLUNTARINESS - Is present in a person doing
an act willfully, regardless of whether he likes to do it or not. It
is either positive or negative.
MODIFIERS OF HUMAN ACTS
1. IGNORANCE - Absence of knowledge which a person ought
to possess.
2. PASSION - Either tendencies towards desirable objects, or
tendencies away from undesirable or harmful things.
CLASSIFICATION OF PASSIONS
1. POSITIVE EMOTION - love, delight, hope, bravery etc.
2. NEGATIVE EMOTION - Hatred, sadness, despair, fear, anger,
etc.
 3. FEAR - Disturbance of the mind of a person who is
confronted by an impending danger or harm to himself or
loved ones.
NOTE: Fear is an instinct for self-preservation.

4. VIOLENCE - Refers to any physical force exerted on a person by

another free agent for the purpose of compelling said person to act
against his will.
5. HABITS - Is a lasting readiness and facility, born
of frequently repeated acts, for acting in a certain
manner.
-It also implies that a habit is not easy to alter or
overcome it requires strong will to correct habit
successfully.
ACTION AND EMOTION
Man does an act with emotion and feeling. In doing this
act, he does not only evoke sentiments, but his decision or
intention to perform is swayed by his emotion.
NOTE: Emotions are generally instinctive in origin. In short,
the degree of their intensity, clarity or awareness makes
them human acts to be judged as good or evil. Therefore,
Man’s thoughts and actions are colored by his emotions.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
a. POLICE ETHIC – It is the practical science that treats the
principles of human morality and duty as applied to Law
Enforcement.
b. ETHICS – It is the normative science of the conduct of human
being living in society. They are rules of conduct.
- Science of the morality of man
- Study of human motivation, and ultimately of human rational
behavior.
- Ethics is a branch of philosophy which studies the principles of
right or wrong in human conduct. It comes from the Latin word
“ethos” means customary, behavior, moral.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
c. VIRTUE – It is a habit which inclines man to act in a way
that harmonizes with his nature.
d. MORAL VIRTUE – It concern those action that pertains to
one duty towards his neighbors and himself.
e. CONSCIENCE – It is the voice of reason bidding oneself to
something right or avoid something wrong. If one always
follows conscience he shall never do wrong.
f. RIGHT – It is the moral power to own, to use, or to exact
something. It gives man a title by which he can justify claim as
his own.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:

g. COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY – It refers to the doctrine that imposes

commensurate accountability to one who is vested with authority to exercise
management/leadership function.

h. COMMAND – It is the authority of a person lawfully exercises over

subordinates by virtue of his rank and assignment or position.

i. RESPONSIBILITY – It refers to the obligation to perform duties and

functions and to the consequences of activities under one’s command.

j. MAXIMUM TOLERANCE – Refers to the conceptual policy laid down for

observance of all law enforcement personnel to exercise utmost restraint and
self-control in the performance of their official function. In case of civil
disturbance, confrontations, demonstration, strikes, rallies, arrest, investigation
and interrogation.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:

k. HUMAN RIGHTS – Includes all rights enjoyed by

individuals as provided for under the Constitution, and
other international instruments such as the United
Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights.
l. DISCIPLINE – Self-control or obedience.
m. CONDUCT – personal behavior
n. ELECTIONEERING – Directly or indirectly
participating in partisan political activities.