Morality

HUM 123-5

Source: https://psmag.com/social-justice/morality-can-trump-tribalism-83378
MODULE CONTENT

COURSE TITLE: ETHICS

MODULE TITLE: MORALITY

Bachelor of Science Bulacan Date Developed:

in March 2021
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ETHICS
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NOMINAL DURATION: 6 HRS

SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module, you MUST be able to:
1. understand the determinants of morality,
2. state the different divisions/kinds of law,
3. comprehend the significance and nature of conscience, and
4. understand the norms of morality.

TOPICS:
1. Determinants of Morality
2. Norms of Morality

ASSESSMENT METHOD/S:
Online Assessment,

REFERENCE/S:
Agapay, Ramon. (2008). Ethics and Filipino: A Manual on Morals for
Students and Educators. National Bookstore.

https://www.slideserve.com/phil/specific-determinants-of-morality

https://www.slideshare.net/soulseeker_tiger/norms-of-morality

Information Sheet HUM 123-5

MORALITY
Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. understand the determinants of morality,
2. state the different divisions/kinds of law,

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 3. comprehend the significance and nature of conscience, and
4. understand the norms of morality.

Introduction

An axiom says- “Bonum ex integra causa, malum ex quocumquw

defectu”, that is, a thing is good from the perfection of its parts, evil from
any defect of its part. A human act, in order to be morally acceptable, must
be morally perfect in all its aspects.
A morally good act is that which sound in all aspects - in its nature,
motive, and circumstances. In the Scriptures, the morally upright is just
man, one who weighs his actions in relation to what the law demands, to
what circumstances would allow, and to what fits his stature as a rational
being. A morally good action is a just act - “makatarungan”.
We also speak of it as “maka-tao” or “maka-Diyos” indicating that
such action is fair to the other person and in accordance with the Will of
God.

Lesson Proper
Morality is the principles concerning the distinction between right
and wrong or good and bad behavior.
Determinants of Morality
-factors which essentially affect the goodness or badness of an action
The End of the Action
- the natural purpose of the act
- that in which the act in its very nature terminates or results
The end of the action is the primary determinant of morality.
The End of the Agent
- the intention or aim of the doer of the action
- varies with different individuals, while the end of the act is
always

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 the same
Example
The end or natural purpose of going to school is to learn yet some go
to school only to be with friends; some go to school only to satisfy the wish
of their parents; some go to school only to engage in athletics or extra
curricular activities.
An act good in itself may be spoiled by a bad intention.
Circumstance
- may increase or decrease the gravity of an offense; or they may
justify an act; or even exempt the agent from criminal responsibility, liability
or punishment

A. Aggravating
- are those which add to the seriousness of the offense.
In the case of murder, aggravating circumstances are conspiracy,
profession of the murderer, taking advantage of one’s position in the
government.

B. Mitigating or extenuating circumstance

-are those that lessen or palliate the gravity of a crime.
In the case of murder, mitigating circumstances: provocation; lack of
full consent or knowledge; no intention to kill.

C. Justifying circumstance
- are those that make the doing of an act right; so that there is no
crime committed nor is there any criminal or civil liability.
In the case of murder, there can be no justifying circumstance.
However, there can be a justifying circumstance in the case of killing an
aggressor in self-defense.
D. Exempting circumstance
- are those that exempt an agent from responsibility and
punishment.
In the case of murder, the following can be the exempting
circumstances: age below 9 years old, insanity, violence, above 9 but below
15, who acted without discernment.

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 To be morally good, a human act must agree with the norm of morality
on all three counts: in its nature, its motive, and its circumstances.
Departure from any of these makes the action morally wrong.

Principles Involved in Circumstances (Paul Glenn)

1. An indifferent act can become good or evil through circumstance.

• Eating meat: indifferent
• Eating meat on a Good Friday intentionally: evil

2. A good act can become evil through circumstances.

• Giving money to indigents: good
• Giving money to indigents for votes: evil

3. An evil act can never become good through circumstance.

• Stealing money in order to buy food cannot make stealing good.

4. An intrinsically good act can become better or an intrinsically evil

act can become worse through circumstance.
• Visiting a sick person for early recovery: good
• Not visiting one’s sick father in a hospital out of hatred: worse

5. A good act done with evil means destroys the entire objective
goodness of the act.
• Giving money to the poor: good
• Giving the money to the poor through robbery: evil

THE RELEVANCE OF LAWS

Laws mandate some actions are prohibited and others as permitted and
required. We may therefore consider laws as determinants of human
behavior. Some people do not do what is good unless they are forced to. St.
Thomas points out that laws are made for those who are weak in character.
Law, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, is an ordinance of reason,
promulgated for the common good by one who has charge of society.

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Division/Kinds of Law

1. Eternal Laws/ Divine Positive Laws are those made known to men
by God. It is promulgated to creatures by God being embedded in
their nature.

i. Eternal law is eternal (endless) and

unchangeable

ii. Eternal law is absolutely universal

2. Human Positive Laws are those made by legitimate human authority

such laws enacted by the State (Constitution) or the Church (Canon
Law).

3. Affirmative and Negative Laws. Affirmative laws are those that

require the performance of an act, like giving respect to parents.
Negative laws are those that prohibit the performance of an act, like
prohibition against smoking in designated public places.

4. Natural Moral Laws are inherent and essential tendencies of human

nature so that they are thought as being “written” in the hearts of
men. They regulate thoughts and feelings (conscience).

4.1 Attributes of the Natural Law

 Obligatory

 Universal

 Has its proper sanctions

 Knowable or recognizable

 Immutable and Unchangeable

4.2 The Contents of Natural Law

 Formal norms. Those that relate to our character to what kind

of persons we ought to be

 Material norms. Ought to be done

 Outlines of Natural law:

 Fundamental principles in their general applications

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  General moral principles which sustain and preserve the
basic relations of man to God, to himself and to neighbors

 Applications of the general principles of morality to

specific situations in life and society

 Remote conclusions derived by a process of reasoning

Properties of a Just Law

1. A human law must in conformity with the divine laws.

2. A human law must promote the common good. The common good is
the communal benefit, material, spiritual, necessary for the
promotion of human life.

3. A human law must not discriminate against certain individuals or

groups.

4. A human law must be practicable.

5. A human law must be flexible.

6. A human law must be amendable.

NORMS OF MORALITY
What is Norm?
Something by which an act or conduct is measured as good or bad,
right or wrong, moral or immoral; rule or standard; criteria for judgement.
Norm of Morality
The standard of right and wrong in human actions

Types of norm:
Eternal Divine Law (objective)
The ultimate and absolute norm of morality ; independent of
any standard
Human Reason (subjective)
As related to the person’s conscience

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LAW AS THE OBJECT NORM OF MORALITY
General Notion of Law
Law is a norm which governs nature and actions of things

 Law of Nature- principles that governs the natural phenomena of the

world (e.g. biological system of humans)

 Natural Law- refers to the free acts of rational beings

 Moral Law - Law is an ordinance of reason for the common good,

promulgated by one who has the care of the community. Law is a kind of
imposition which necessities obedience on the part of the subjects.
Essential Elements for a Law to be Reasonable:

i. It must be just
Promote and uphold the inherent rights and dignity of every human
person
ii. It must be honest
Should not contradict in essence to any higher

law iii. It must be possible of fulfillment (practical)

iv. It must be relatively permanent

v. It must be promulgated (publicize) vi.

It must be directed to common good

vii. It must be promulgated by one who has the care of the community
(e.g. president)

LAW AS THE SUBJECT NORM OF MORALITY

Meaning of Conscience
‘Cum’ (together) and ‘Scientia’ (to know). It is the Second norm of
morality. An inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the
rightness or wrongness of one's behavior.

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Conscience as an Act of Intellect (Judgement of Reason)
o An act of practical judgement of reason deciding upon an
individual
action as good and to be performed or as evil and to be avoided
o Conscience can only be applied to intellect
o Only the intellect can detect the rightness or wrongness of our
actions
Conscience as a Practical Moral Judgement
o Deals itself with the moral quality of a person’s concrete act,
dictating the person to perform what is good and to refrain from doing what
is bad or evil o Extension of the natural law which guides man
Conscience as the Proximate Norm of Morality
o Allows a person to have a direct and personal access in his
conscience
o Must conform to a higher norm (eternal divine law)
Kinds of Conscience
According to the conscience’s:
Harmony or disharmony with objective truth

i. Correct or True Conscience- Judges the good as good and evil as evil

ii. Erroneous of False conscience- Mistakes the good as bad and what
is bad is good

iii. Invincibly erroneous conscience- Kind of judgement where the error

could not have been avoided.

iv. Viscidly erroneous conscience- Kind of judgement where the error

could have been avoided if the person exerted diligence on his part.

v.Perplexed conscience- When faced with two alternative options, fears

that is present in both choices
vi. Pharisaical conscience- Imagines grave sins as small ones and
magnifies little offenses as serious
Firmness in its judgement of the morality of the act

i. Certain Conscience- Sure whether something is good or bad, right or

wrong, moral or immoral

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ii. Doubtful Conscience- Unsure whether something is good or bad,
right or wrong, moral or immoral

iii. Scrupulous Conscience- Very cautious or extremely fearful to the

extent that the person refuses to act

iv. Lax Conscience- Takes what is wrong or sinful very lightly, even
considering it as something good and okay.

Principles Governing Conscience

o A certain conscience must always be obeyed, whatever it commands
or
forbids
o The invincibly erroneous conscience must be followed
o The evincible erroneous conscience cannot be followed as legitimate
rule of action
o A person who is of lax conscience has the general and grave obligation
to reform this state of mind
o The person with a perplexed type of conscience, when making choices
has to ‘postpone any action’ o If a person has a doubtful conscience,
one may never act

Conscience vs. Civil Authority

Whenever there is a conflict between civil authority (state law) and
divine law(natural moral law), the person has to obey God rather than men.

Bachelor of Science Bulacan Date Developed:

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ETHICS
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