CIRCULAR RELATION OF ACTS AND CHARACTER

• In the process of moral development, there is a relation between acts that build character and
moral character itself. Not all acts help to build moral character, but those acts which
emanate from characters certainly matter in moral development.

Acts that build character- It is the acts of one person to build his own character. A person’s actions
determine his/her moral character.

For example, if you possess an “honest character”, it will always lead you to do actions associated with
honesty (and you may rarely do actions related to dishonesty).

Moral Character itself- - It is an evaluation of an individual’s stable moral qualities. This will define you
as an individual.

For example, when you “tell the absolute truth even at the risk of attracting troubles”, this particular
action determines the kind of moral character that you have – which is, honesty.

MORAL CHARACTER AS DISPOSITION

The moral character traits that constitute a person’s moral character are characteristically
understood as behavioral and affective dispositions. 

Dispositions are particular kinds of properties or characteristics that objects can possess`

- In the physical world, Examples of dispositions include the solubility of a sugar cube in water,
the fragility of porcelain, the elasticity of a rubber band, and the magnetism of a lodestone.

Moral character traits are those dispositions of character for which it is appropriate to hold agents
morally responsible. A trait for which the agent is deserving of a positive reactive attitude, such as
praise or gratitude, is a virtue, and a vice is a trait for which the agent is deserving of a negative
reactive attitude, such as resentment or blame.

-When we say disposition of the character it makes the agent morally responsible for his action. Ibig
sabihin ang disposition natin ay malaking epekto sa atin, kumbaga ito ang mindset or yung disposition
natin when we do a particular action.

Moral character traits are relatively stable, fixed and reliable dispositions of action and affect that
ought to be rationally informed.

- Ibig sabahin kapag may nabuo ng disposition o character for sure ito ay stable or automatic na lalabas
na sayo, kaya tandaan moral character is also a disposition. It can also affects one’s moral decision. For
example, isang batang lumaki sa environment na yung tatay nya magnanakaw, nanay nagsusugal, dahil
ito ay kinakalakihan ng bata, yung disposition niya sa buhay ay for sure ay ganun din, kumbaga kahit
nakapagtapos sya ng pag aaral at kahit ano ang natutunan nya sa school ay malaki pa rin yung
impluwensya, yung disposition na na-instill (nakatatak) sa kanya nung bata sya.

DEFINITIONS (IN CASE MAG TANONG)

moral character

-refers to the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty.

moral character

refers to having or lacking moral virtue.

character

a distinct mark by which one thing was distinguished from others, and then chiefly to mean the
assemblage of qualities that distinguish one person from another.

ćharaktêr

greek word of character.

the two distinct of human excellences according to Aristotle.

excellences of thought and excellences of character

agent

this is morally responsible for having the moral character trait itself or for the outcome of that trait.

disposition

these are particular kinds of properties or characteristics that objects can possess.

moral character traits

are those dispositions of character for which it is suitable to hold agents morally responsible.

virtue

a moral character trait for which a person is deserving of a positive reactive attitude, such as praise or
gratitude.

vice

this is a moral character trait for which the agent is deserving of a negative reactive attitude, such as
resentment or blame.

good moral character

is practically a disposition to do virtuous acts.

bad moral character

is a disposition to do vicious deeds.