Institute of Technology: Camiguin Polytechnic State College

Republic of the Philippines
CAMIGUIN POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

Balbagon 9100, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel(088)8890183
www.cpsc.edu.ph|camiguinpolytechnic@yahoo.com
Institute of Technology
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After reading and browsing this module, the students are expected to:
1. Describe free will as an essential attribute of human act.

2. Explain the principles related to passions and habits as modifiers of knowledge.
3. Differentiate Emotivism and Subjectivism
Module Overview
This module is concerned with developing your understanding of what human act as
willfully done is, the modifier of free will, and feelings and moral decision making. It is hoped
that the discussion, description and explanation in this module will further help in your journey
to the understanding of ethics, especially will as an essential attribute of human act and the
role of feelings in making moral decision. Make use of this module to provide you with insights
and ideas to help you understand free will as an essential attribute of a human act and the
role of feelings in moral decision making.
This module contains the following topics:

Topic 1: Modifiers of the Will: Passions and Habits
Topic 2: Feelings as Instinctive Response to Moral Dilemmas
Topic 3: Subjectivism vs. Emotivism
Let’s begin!
Preparatory Activity!
1. List down 3 actions that express positive emotions
2. List down 3 actions you do which is unreasonable (without good reason).

Act as Willfully Done
LET’S BROWSE!
One essential attribute of an act to be truly human is the willingness to do the act; you
like doing it, you love doing it and your mind, your heart, your soul and your whole self is
with. Whether it be elicited or commanded, the willingness should be present to be truly
human and to have moral significance. By moral significance, we mean such act can be judged
as moral or right as it conforms to the norms of morality, immoral or wrong as it does not
conform with the norms of morality or, amoral or indifferent as it cannot be determined as to
whether it conforms or not to the norms of morality.
Modifiers of the Will: Passions and Habits

As the moral significance of a human act is very important, it good to know that there are
instances when the presence or absence of such essential attribute can make a difference in
the determination of its moral distinction as to whether moral immoral or amoral. Let us look
into the modifiers of the will which can have important effect in the moral distinction.
Passion or concupiscence
Passion or concupiscence, are either tendencies towards desirable objects or
tendencies away from undesirable or harmful things. The former is called positive emotions;
the latter negative emotions. Passions are psychic responses. As such they are neither mortal
nor immoral. However, man is bound to regulate his emotions and submit them to the control
of reason.
Passions are either antecedent or consequent. Antecedent passions are those that
precede an act. It may happen that a person is emotionally aroused to perform an act.
Antecedent passions predisposed a person to act. Thus, love may induce one to make
numerous and lengthy phone calls to his sweetheart or to plot the murder of a rival.
Principle: Antecedent passions do not always destroy voluntariness but they diminish
accountability for the resultant act. Antecedent passions weaken the will power of a person
without however, completely obstructing his freedom. Thus, the so called “crimes of passion”
are voluntary. But in so far as passions interfere with the freedom of the will one’s
accountability is diminished.
Consequent passions are those intentionally aroused and kept. Consequent passions
therefore are said to be voluntary in cause, the result of the will playing the strings of
emotions. Thus, a young man may deliberately arouse himself sexually by reading
pornographic magazines. Or a victim of injustice may intentionally nurse his resentment
towards his tormentor. The young man who commits lasciviousness after arousing himself
sexually and the fellow who commits vengeance due to his cultivated resentment are both
morally accountable.
Principle: Consequent passion do not lessen voluntariness; it may even increase

accountability. This is because consequent passions are direct results of the will which fully
consent to them instead of subordinating them to its control.
Habit
Habit as defined by Glenn “is a lasting readiness and faculty, born of frequently repeated
acts, for acting in a certain manner”. Habits are acquired inclinations towards something to
be done. They assume the role of a second nature, moving one who has them to perform acts
with relative ease.
The word habit forming that we use to refer to certain experiences shows how easy
it is for one to acquire a habit. It also implies that a habit is not easy to overcome or alter. It
requires a strong-willed person to correct a habit successfully within a limited period of time.
Thus, alcoholics and smokers find it almost impossible to reform.
Principle: Action do by force of habit is voluntary in cause, unless a reasonable effort is made
to counteract the habitual inclination, Habits are either good or bad. We speak here of bad
habits which lead to immoral acts.
Habits are voluntary in cause because they are the result of previously willed acts done
repeatedly as a matter of fact. Thus, every activity emanating from habit is said to partaker
of the voluntariness of those previous acts. Therefore, for as long as the habit is not corrected,
evil actions done by force of habit are voluntary and accountable. When a person decides to
fight his habit, and for as long as the effort towards this purpose continues, actions resulting
from such habit may be regarded as acts of man and not accountable.
Emotivism and Subjectivism
Emotivism is an improved version of Subjectivism; actually, the most popular form of non-
cognitivism, the meta-ethical theory that claims that ethical sentences do not convey authentic
propositions. It based on Logical Positivism that states that all truth claims must be empirically
verifiable. It denies moral truth and knowledge, because of the absence of scientific or
empirical evidence. Moral judgments according to Emotivism are not statements of fact but
are mere expressions of the emotions of the speaker, especially since they are usually feelings
based.
Purposes of Language
1. Statement to convey Information
“Marcos was a President once.”
“Jose Rizal wrote Noli me Tangere”
2. Command to influence conduct
“Close the door!”
3. Expression Express the speaker’s attitude
“Yes Lord!”
4. Reporting vs. Expressing an Attitude
“I like Marcos.” ^I am reporting the fact that I have a positive attitude
towards him.
“Hurrah for Marcos!” ^I am expressing an attitude, but not reporting that I
have it.
Two purposes of Ethical Utterances

1. As a command
“Stealing is immoral” “Don’t steal!”
2. To express (not report) a speaker’s attitude
“Fair play is good”
“Hurrah for fair play!”
“I approve of fair play”
Subjectivism vs. Emotivism

Subjectivism = “I disapprove of hazing.”
Seen as a statement of fact about the speaker.
Can be true or false.
Emotivism ≠ “I disapprove of hazing.”
= “Do not participate in hazing.”
Does not state a fact about the speaker at all.
Evaluating Emotivism: Faults

1. It suggests that in ethical disputes, we can only appeal to emotion, not reason. This
situation can bring about anarchy.
2. It is against deliberate discussions about ethical differences.
3. It fails to distinguish moral judgements from expressions of personal preferences.
4. Personal taste, does not require to be supported by reason. Moral statements require
backing by reasons. In the absence of sensible rationale, they are merely capricious and
ignorable.
5. The theory reduced morality to mere matters of feelings without reasons. The fact is moral
truths are truths of reasons.
Feelings Can Help in Making the Right Decisions

There are situations in which our feelings and likings are relevant to the rightness of our
decisions and actions. Christian Philosophy of love is basically a string of liking, desire, or
emotion. Moral compasses are strongly influenced by the fleeting forces of disgust, fondness,
or fear. Emotions like our love for family and friends play crucial part in giving meaning to life.
Feelings should not be removed in the sphere of morality. There are times when feelings are
relevant to the rightness of decisions and actions. Ethics-without-feeling goes against Christian
philosophy’s emphasis on love, in which we should serve God with a joyful heart or feeling.
Sometimes, rational thinking is not the only proper way to make an ethical decision.
Nonetheless, feelings and emotions involved in moral thinking should be anchored on careful
deliberations. It ought to mesh with an emotional instinctive reaction that provides a
motivation to act ethically and correct injustices.
Six ways to Control Your emotions and Make Better Decisions
1. Pause and assess the situation. This simple act can save you headaches down the road.
Give your brain enough time to evaluate the current situation so you can make the right
choice.
2. Don't always rely on your gut. Intuition, more commonly known as “gut feeling”, is one
of our most basic instincts. It helps us identify cues in the environment so we avoid danger
and survive. But avoid trusting this human sense when it comes to games of chance (i.e.
circumstances that rely on a 50/50 probability). The best examples would be gambling and
the stock market. So when can you rely on your gut? When there are skills or experience
involved.
3. Put it in writing. You’re not going to feel better right away – however, keeping notes
about your day is a tried-and-tested form of therapy. It’s free, it gives you some alone time,
and you can review your thoughts later for more clarity.
4. Narrow your options. Narrowing your selection will not only save you a lot of stress,
science says you’ll be happier with the choice you’ve made, too!
5. Ask the majority. One of the best tricks to choosing the right decision – especially if it
involves big risks – is to ask for a second opinion.
6. Avoid burnout. Feeling stressed, confused, or anxious? Get some rest. Not only will you
feel refreshed after waking up, your mind will be clearer to pick a better option.
Synthesis/Generalization
A willfully done action can be altered by the presence of passion and habit. Feelings are
instinctive responses to moral dilemmas. Yet as responses they may either be obstacles or
helps in making moral decisions; that is why there is a need to be on guard against the
improper use of feelings in moral decisions.
ASSESSMENT
Name: Date:
Course & Year:
GENERAL INSTRUCTION:
⚫ You can just edit the document and insert your answer then turn in, in the google classroom.
⚫ Read and follow instructions.
I. Identification.
1. They are either tendencies towards desirable objects or tendencies away
from undesirable or harmful things.
2. A lasting readiness and faculty, born of frequently repeated acts, for acting
in a certain manner.
3. This claims that any legitimate truth claim must be empirically verifiable.
4. An act done voluntarily and intentionally.
5. These are two modifiers of the will which can have important effect in the
moral distinction.
APPLICATION
I.
In your Facebook account, post a status using this template. And tag me with this fb account.
https://www.facebook.com/jackylyn.canubas.1/
(The best way to get away from anger is because .)

(Ang pinakamaayong paagi aron makalingkawas sa kasuko mao ang
kay .)
And then, use the hash tags #Ethics #CoolKaLang
Note: You may use the language you are proficient with. Choose only one either bisaya or
english.
References
Agapay, R. B. Ethics and the Filipino: A Manual on Morals for Students and Educators, 2ns
ed. (1995, 2008)
https://www.idealist.org/en/careers/6-ways-to-control-your-emotions-and-make-better-
decisions
https://prezi.com/jghdvptk3lef/modifiers-of-human-acts/
https://pdfcoffee.com/modifiers-of-human-actspdf-pdf-free.html

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Republic of the Philippines

CAMIGUIN POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

1. Describe free will as an essential attribute of human act.

This module contains the following topics:

1. List down 3 actions that express positive emotions

2. List down 3 actions you do which is unreasonable (without good reason).

Act as Willfully Done

Modifiers of the Will: Passions and Habits

Principle: Consequent passion do not lessen voluntariness; it may even increase

Emotivism and Subjectivism

Two purposes of Ethical Utterances

Subjectivism vs. Emotivism

Evaluating Emotivism: Faults

Feelings Can Help in Making the Right Decisions

Six ways to Control Your emotions and Make Better Decisions

(The best way to get away from anger is because .)

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