ETHICS

QUEZON CITY UNIVERSITY

SY 2019-2020
PRINCIPLE OF INDIRECT
VOLUNTARY ACT.
Take note that if the result of
our direct voluntary act is
bad, this leads to the
question of whether the
agent is responsible or not
responsible for that bad
result (the indirect
voluntary act)
In one sense, we can say that the
agent is responsible for had he
not done the cause, the effect
would not happened.
In another sense, we can also say
that the agent is not responsible
because he did not intend at all
the bad result; only the cause.
Now, in the concrete or in
practice, we cannot
just say this – that in
one sense the agent
is responsible and in
another is not
responsible.
We have to resolve or we have to
decide definitely whether
or not the agent is
responsible for the evil
effect of an act which he
directly intended.
Thus, we have the following
principle:
PRINCIPLE OF
INDIRECT VOLUNTARY ACT

An agent is responsible for the

evil effect of an act which
he directly intended when
the following conditions
are fulfilled:
Conditions:
1. The agent must foresee the evil
effect of his act;
2. He must be free to refrain from
doing the act which is the cause
of the evil effect; and
3. He must be morally obliged to
stop doing the act which is the
cause of the evil effect.
CASE # 1
A young man put a time bomb in the luggage
of an enemy who took it aboard an
airplane. The bomb exploded while the
plane was in flight killing the enemy and
all other passengers.
Is the young man responsible for the death
of the other passengers though it is not
the motive of the act?
To answer the question: Use Principle of
Indirect Voluntary Act
APPLICATION
a. The young man intends only
the death of his enemy,
he is fully aware too that
there are other
passengers who may be
killed if the bomb
explodes.
Thus, fulfilling the first condition.
b. There is no force or violence
(or any other factors) that
oblige the young man to
put the bomb in the
luggage.
This means then, that he is free
to put or not to put the
bomb.
This fulfills the second condition.
c. Since, the young man is fully
aware that not only his
enemy but also other
passengers will be killed in
the explosion of the bomb,
this imposes upon him an
obligation to stop putting
the bomb in the luggage.
Hence, fulfilling the third condition.
Verdict:
Now, Since all the three conditions
set by the principle are fulfilled,
therefore, we can finally say
that the young man is
responsible for the death of all
the passengers, though he did
not directly intend it.
CASE # 2
At gunpoint, a man fires a gun inside a
crowded movie house making all
the people inside panic and
resulting in the injury of many and
to the death of one or two
moviegoers.
Is the agent responsible for the evil
effects of his act?
Use Prin. of Indirect Voluntary Act.
APPLICATION
a. The man knows very well that if he
fires a gun inside the crowded
movie house, the act will cause
the moviegoers inside to panic
and thus, many will be injured
and some may even be killed.
Therefore, the first condition is
fulfilled.
b. Since the man knows the evil effects of
his act, this obliges him to stop doing
the act which will cause the evil effects.
This fulfills the third condition.
c. However, the man fires a gun at gunpoint.
This means that his act of firing is not a
free act. He is not free to stop due to
the force (violence) compelling him to
act even if his act is against his will.
Since only the first and the
third conditions are
fulfilled and the second is
not fulfilled, therefore,
we can say that the man
is not responsible for the
evil effects of his act.
Supposing now, there are two
effects flowing from an
act. One effect is good
and the other is bad. Is
the agent allowed to do
the act?
To resolve the question, we will
use the Principle of
Double Effect.
PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECT
Conditions:
1. The act must be good in itself or
at least morally indifferent;
2. The evil effect must not precede
the good effect. At least,
they should happened
simultaneously.
3. There must be a sufficient reason for
doing the act. A sufficient for
doing the act exists when:
a. the good effect is more important or
at least equally important with the
bad effect;
b. the act is the only means of
achieving the good effect.
4. The intention of the agent must be
honest.
Case # 1
A Janitor is trapped in one of the rooms on
the 15th floor of a building that is on fire.
The only way to escape from death by
burning is to jump out of the window,
but this would also kill the janitor after
hitting the ground.
Is the janitor allowed to jump from the 15th
floor thus killing himself when he
touches the ground?
Apply the Principle of Double Effect.
APPLICATION
a. The act of jumping itself is an
indifferent act. To jump
out of the window to
escape death by burning
is good.
This fulfills the first condition.
b. The moment the janitor jumps out of
the window, he is already free
from fire. Before he reaches the
ground, the evil effect (his death)
has not occurred yet. This means
that the good effect (escape from
fire) occurs first, then followed by
the bad effect (the death of the
janitor).
Thus, fulfilling the second condition.
c. The good and evil effects are equally
important. The janitor saves
his life from fire but loses it by
jumping out of the window
from the 15th floor to the
ground.
This act of jumping is the only means of
escaping from fire inasmuch as
he is trapped in the room.
Thus, fulfilling the third condition.
d. The intention of the janitor is not to kill
himself. As a matter of fact, he is
running away from death by fire when
he jumps out of the window.
Thus, fulfilling the fourth condition.
Since all four conditions are fulfilled;
therefore we can say that the janitor act
of jumping resulting to his death is not
to be called an act of suicide.
It is justifiable or allowable he has no moral
obligation.
Case # 2
A patient is dying in an awful
agony. Medical relief, there is
none.
Can a doctor give the patient a
drug to kill the patient
instantly, thus ending the
patient’s agony or suffering?
Apply the Principle of Double Effect
Application
A. To give the patient a drug that will kill
him is an evil act. Does not fulfill the
first condition.
B. The good effect which is the end of
the sufferings or agony of the patient
is achieved only after the evil effect
(death of the patient) is achieved.
This does not fulfill the second
condition.
c. The good effect (end of the
suffering or agony) is less
important than the evil effect
(the loss of the patient’s life).
Death is not a necessary and
much less a sure end to our
sufferings. Physical suffering at
least even to the slightest
degree cannot be absolutely
avoided as long as we live.
Death could even be the
beginning of the endless
spiritual suffering. Hence,
there is no sufficient
reason for doing the act.
So to say, did not fulfill the
third condition.
d. The primary intention of giving a
drug to the patient is to kill himself.
The doctor’s intention is not honest.
Thus, the fourth condition is violated.
Now, Since all the conditions are not
fulfilled; therefore, the doctor is
not allowed to give the drug to the
patient that will kill him later even
though this will end his sufferings
and agony.
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