LESSON 4

THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS

(WEEKS 7 and 8)
OBJECTIVES

1. To define and differentiate human acts and acts of man

2. To determine ways to handle passion
3. To show the importance of prayer in daily life experiences

Let’s get Started:

CONCEPT MAPPING ON MORALITY

Simple Brainstorming: For most people, the concept of morality seems vague and ambigious. It is hard
to specifically visualize what the word pertains to. This exercise aims to assess your personal knowledge
or understanding of morality. At the center is the concept of morality. Think of four (4) different ideas
that you usually associate with the concept.

MORALITY

Understanding Morality: Using the words from the figure above, make your own definition of
morality.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
WHAT IS MORALITY?

Freedom makes man a moral subject. When he acts deliberately man is, so to speak, the father
of his acts. It is in this light that morality requires the determination of the specific nature of action.
While human acts of man both pertain to the actions or behaviors of an individual, they must be clearly
delineated in order to discern which brings moral responsibility.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF HUMAN ACTS FROM ACTS OF MAN?

HUMAN ACTS are actions that are proper to humans, thus the crucial element of willful consent and
knowledge of the action must be present. One must freely use his/her intellect and freewill when
acting. Human acts reveal the value of responsibility or accountability. Eating healthy foods, reading
notes in preparation for an exam, or saying no to drugs are just few examples.

ACTS OF MAN are different since the actions themselves are not reflective of the person as a rational
being. The actions are performed without conscious deliberation or knowledge and with the absence of
freewill. Acts of man constitute unconscious and involuntary actions. Examples are breathing,
digestion, circulation of air in the body, the like. These are all natural processes within the body that
continue to function without the use of freewill and reason. Other examples include those reflexive in
nature, such as catching a falling object, reacting instinctively when touching a very hot surface, and
others. These actions are done without the need for reasoning and freewill. They just happen naturally
as automatic responses to the situations.

Morality therefore covers human acts and not acts of man.

ELEMENTS OF HUMAN ACTS

1. Human acts must be known and deliberate. An individual, as the moral agent, has full knowledge in
doing a certain action. There is a prior knowledge and a deliberate evaluation whether to do an action
or not.

2. Human acts must be free. An individual as the moral agent is free from any external factors as well as
internal pressure to do the act. He/she is neither forced nor intimidated to do or not to do something.

3. Human acts are voluntary. The action proceeds from the willingness of an individual to perform
action with a perceived knowledge of the end or result.
 The three elements of human acts are essential in determining the morality of an action. The
absence of one renders the evaluation of morality insufficient.

Human actions are qualified as GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT. The quality and standard of a
human act depends on the relation of the act with the norms of morality. An act is GOOD when it
agrees with the dictates of right reason. An act is BAD when it disagrees with the dictates of right
reason. An act is INDIFFERENT when it stands no relation to the dictates of the right reason.

THE SOURCES OF MORALITY

1. The OBJECT/ACT. This is the action itself. This answers the question WHAT.

2. The CIRCUMSTANCE. This refers to the person involved, the time, place, and occasion that surround
an object/act. In other words it answers the questions WHO, WHEN, WHERE and HOW. This can change
or completely alter the moral quality of a human act.

3. The INTENTION or END or PURPOSE. Every human act, no matter how trivial or insignificant, is done
with an intention or purpose – the reason behind the act. This answers the question WHY. The morality
of many things that one does is determined by the intention. The end or intention can change human
actions in four ways:

a. An indifferent act may become morally good or bad.

Example: To study law is in itself an indifferent action. It becomes good when inspired by the
thought of helping especially those poor victims. It becomes bad if it is intended to perform illegal or
immoral actions.

b. An objectively good act may become morally bad.

Example: When a person gives alms to a poor girl but with the intention of seducing her.

c. An objectively good act can receive added goodness.

Example: A person may give alms not only to help the poor but also for the love of God.

d. An objectively bad act can never become good in spite of the good motive.

Example: To steal money with the good intention of giving it to charitable institutions or to the
poor, as the legendary Robin Hood did. As the principle says, “The end does not justify the means.”
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF PASSION?

The term passion means any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate; a
strong extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything. The passions or feelings can help the
person in his duty to choose.

PASSAGEWAY FROM SENSES TO MIND

Feelings (passions) are movements of the sensitive appetite. Passion leads one to act or not to
act when experiencing perceived good or evil.

Emotions are a passageway connecting man’s life of the senses with his life of the mind. Jesus
called this source of human emotions “the heart” (Mk 7:21)

LOVING GOOD OR EVIL

Love (the most fundamental emotion) is attracted by the good causes hope and finds pleasure
in possessing it. In contrast, seeing evil causes hatred, aversion, and fear. This leads to sadness or to
anger.

PASSIONS AND MORAL LIFE

Passions in themselves are neither good nor evil. They become good or evil as they lead the
reason and the will to make a choice. Passions become voluntary when the will commands them or
places no obstacles to them. “Moral goodness exists when passions are governed by reason” (St.
Thomas Aquinas).

Strong feelings do not decide morality. They are only the inexhaustible reservoir of images and
affections. Feelings are good when contributing to good acts. They are evil when leading to evil acts.
These feelings can be lifted up by virtues, the habitual and strong disposition to do good or perverted
by vices, the habitual and strong disposition to do evil.

HOW TO HANDLE PASSIONS?

1. Take care of yourself. 3. Stop and listen to your emotions.

2. Make time to pray and be silent. 4. Thank God. Your emotions are gifts.