Chapter 2: THE AGENT

Module 3: The Human Act

Introduction For the use of TSU students only

As Ethics is defined as the practical science of the morality of human

actions, it is imperative to have a clear understanding of the act, the human actions.
Human actions may either be moral, immoral or amoral depending on the
circumstances that surround them. This module is dedicated for you to get
acquainted with the act, the human act. It is hoped that the discussion, description
and explanation in this module will further help in your journey to the understanding
of ethics. Make use of this module to provide you with insights and ideas to help
you understand the object of study in ethic, the human act.

Test Yourself (place your answer on p. 91)

Instruction: Identify whether the following is a Deliberate (D) or

Instinctive (I)

1. Breathing 4. Writing
2. Reading

3. Dreaming 5. Cooking
Learning Objectives

With the completion of this self-learning module, you should be able to:

1. Describe the difference between human act and act of man.

2. Illustrate knowledge of the essential attributes of human act.
3. Differentiate elicited from commanded acts

Content

Preparatory Activity

Exercise (place your answer on p. 91)

1. List down 5 actions that men consciously do.

2. List down 5 actions that men unconsciously do

Developmental Activities

Human Act versus Act of Man (Some discussions are lifted from
Agapay”s book Ethics and the Filipino)

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 For the use of TSU students only

Ethics deals with the study of man and particularly with his actions. But not
every act which proceeds from man is a human act, as used and understood in
ethics. By human act acts in ethics, we mean:

• The free voluntary acts of man

• The acts with knowledge and consent
• Acts which are proper to man as man; because, of all animals, he alone has
knowledge and freedom of will.
• Acts which, we are conscious are under our control and for which we are
responsible.
• Human acts are those which man is master, which he has the power of
doing or doing as he pleases.

Acts therefore, in order to be truly human, must be done willfully, knowingly

and freely. Without will or consent, knowledge and freedom, there can be no human
act properly so called. Only human acts have moral significance. When one shoots
and kills another by a revolver, the act is morally wrong, but the moral evil is not in
the action of the revolver but in the act of the one who pulled the trigger that
released the bullet.

The biological or physiological functions or processes which occur in man’s

body, such as the circulation of the blood, the growth of hair and nails, the opening
and closing of the valves of the heart, breathing, etc., are not human acts and have
no moral bearing or significance. They are instinctive and are not withiln the control
of man. They are called acts of man. As such, they are not willfully done, knowingly
done and freely. Examples of acts under this category: acts of person asleep or
under hypnosis, reflex actions where the will has no time to intervene and acts
performed under serious physical violence such as hostage obliged to do an evil
action.

Human acts are either elicited or commanded acts. Elicited acts are those
performed by the will and are not bodily externalized. Paul Glenn enumerated the
following elicited acts:

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 • Wish is the tendency of the will towards something, whether this this be
realizable or not. The object of wishing may include the impossible, or that
which is remotely possible such as winning the sweepstakes.
• Intention is the tendency of the will towards attainable but without
necessarily committing oneself to attain it. Such is our intention to study the
lesson, to attend a party, or to spend a vacation in Baguio
• Consent is the acceptance of the will of those needed to carry out the
For the use of TSU students only
intention. Thus a woman is said to show consent when she consciously
attract attention to herself.
• Election is the selection of the will of those means effective enough to carry
out the intention. A salesman shows election when he opts to visit a client
instead of just writing him a letter.
• Use is the command of the will to make use of those means elected to carry
out the intention. It is this act of the will which moves the salesman to dress
up and take a ride to see his client.
• Fruition is the enjoyment of the will derives from the attainment of the thing
he had desired earlier. The joy of the woman on being complimented for her
attractiveness, or the satisfaction of the salesman in closing a deal with his
client is fruition.

Commanded acts are those done either by man‘s mental or bodily powers
under the command of the will. Commanded acts are either internal or external
actions. Examples of internal actions are conscious reasoning, recalling
something, encouraging oneself, controlling aroused emotions and others.
Examples of external actions are walking, eating, dancing, laughing, listening,
reading and others. Some actions are combinations of internal and external actions
such as listening, studying, reading, driving a car, writing a letter or playing chess.

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For the use of TSU students only

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For the use of TSU students only

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For the use of TSU students only

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 For the use of TSU students only

Closure Activty (place your answer on p. 91)

1. Write in one sentence the important learning you got from this module.
2. Write in the space below one word that best describe what you feel right
now on finishing this module.
3. Write in one sentence what you think these learning can contribute in
developing your moral behaviour.

Synthesis/Generalization

1. An act to have moral significance must be a human act.

2. A human act is an act that is knowingly done, wilfully done and freely done.
3. An act is an involuntary and reflexive action; it is not knowingly done, wilfully
done and freely done
4. Elicited acts are acts performed by the will but not bodily externalized
5. Commanded acts are acts performed by the will and are bodily externalized.

Assignment (Place your answer on coupon bond)

Make a research on the topic crime of passion. Read and understand what it Is
all about. Then write an essay describing what it is, why is it wrong, and what
is needed to prevent it.

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