27.MoralityofHumanActs

The Morality of Human Acts : 

The Morality of Human Acts ETHICS & CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE WORK PLACE

Morality and Human Acts : 

Morality and Human Acts Human acts are those that are freely chosen in consequence of a judgment of conscience. They are either good or evil. Their morality depends on: the object chosen, the intention and the circumstances.

Slide 3: 

A moral act depends on whether or not there is consent by the will. HUMAN ACTS They include… 1) Thought 2) Speech 3) Action

MORAL ACTS : 

MORAL ACTS Exercise… Human act or act of man? Looking Seeing Dreaming Day dreaming Hearing Listening Walking Sleepwalking

ACTS not morally accountable : 

ACTS not morally accountable Acts of persons asleep or under hypnosis. Reflex actions where the will has no time to intervene. Acts of performed under serious physical violence e.g. a hostage obliged to do an evil action. Since the will is constrained, then it is not a moral act which could be evaluated.

Slide 6: 

NOTION OF GOOD A thing is good if it serves the purpose for which it was made. An action is good if it leads man to his purpose or end: to be happy, to be holy.

Slide 7: 

NOTION OF GOOD AND EVIL, WHO DICTATES WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG? Man’s true end or purpose is God, his maker. The maker of a thing normally determines its purpose. Since God made human beings, it follows that the purpose of man has been determined by God. Therefore, an action is good if it leads man to God. An action is evil if it draws him away from God.

MORALITY : 

MORALITY THE PURPOSE OF LIFE Non-living beings have a purpose. Plants have a purpose. Animals have purpose. If these inferior beings have a purpose, it follows that man must also have a purpose. It is not determined by just physical laws, or customs, or what the majority do, etc. In short, man aspires for the fullness of truth and the fullness of goodness.

MORALITY : 

MORALITY What is morality? Morality pertains to the goodness or badness of an action. Morality is not concerned about... - usefulness - practicality - pleasure

Models of Ethics : 

Models of Ethics Utilitarianism (based on the usefulness of the actions). The standard of morality is what attains the maximum welfare to the greatest number of people. Proportionalism (the proportion of good you get, no matter whether some evil is done in the process). Consequencionalism: analyses only the consequences. And the end may justify any means…Machiavelli. Eudemonia (the end is happiness, and the foundation is a life of virtues).

JUDGING THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS : 

JUDGING THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS Three elements are needed to judge the morality of a human act: 1) Moral object 2) Intention 3) Circumstances

JUDGING THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS : 

JUDGING THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS Moral object The moral value of a human act depends on the conformity of the object with the good of the person. The moral object is that which one really does. It answers the question “WHAT?” There are acts that are intrinsically evil.

The Intention : 

The Intention The intention is the reason why the act is performed. It answers the question “WHY?” It is the movement of the will toward the end, the purpose pursued in the action. The intention can guide several actions towards the same end. One and the same action can be inspired by several intentions.

Circumstances : 

Circumstances The circumstances are those factors or conditions that contribute to increase or diminish the goodness or evil of an action. A morally good act requires the goodness of the object, intention and circumstances.

JUDGING THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS : 

JUDGING THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS The moral object can either be good (e.g. praying) bad (e.g. stealing) indifferent (e.g. eating) The intention can be either good or bad.

JUDGING THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS : 

JUDGING THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS There are some actions that are evil by their very nature. (e.g. murder, adultery). These are never morally allowable, even if the intention and the circumstances are good. Case study: Marcella.

CONSCIENCE : 

CONSCIENCE What is conscience? How to make sure that our conscience is right and reliable? Is conscience the voice of God?

CONSCIENCE : 

CONSCIENCE The judgment of one’s conscience is not always correct. Through sin, the light of one’s conscience can gradually be darkened. Education of one’s conscience. Humility & sincerity; means of formation; advice spiritual direction. Holy Spirit. Prayer. Examination of conscience.

Indirectly Voluntary Acts : 

Indirectly Voluntary Acts An act can be indirectly voluntary when it results from negligence regarding something one should have known or done. An act is voluntary in causa when it follows frequently from an act that is directly willed.

Responsibility : 

Responsibility It is a quality of free human acts whereby whatever we do freely will leave its mark in us. We own the acts we freely choose to do. Responsibility can be mitigated to the extent that freedom is.

Merit : 

Merit It is the recompense to an action. It can be reward or punishment. We have no claims to merits or rewards from God. But he freely chose to give us his graces. Because of being children of God, man is elevated to perform actions with transcendental value (the order of grace: divine life)

Transcendence of the human person : 

Transcendence of the human person Man’s creation Gen 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image.

Man’s creation : 

3/25/2010 Man’s creation He gave man intelligence: so that he could discern. God gave man free will in order to love God in his goodness. FREEDOM. Man can freely desire God’s glory (good), or else he can rebel (evil):

Dignity of man : 

Dignity of man All that we do affects us spiritually. The Question of Action: How ought I to act? The Question of Character What kind of person ought I to be? TO BE LIKE JESUS CHRIST.

The End : 

The End