Sources of Morality

OBJECT: The Act in Itself

Sources of
Morality
 The Object
The Act in Itself

• refers to the nature of an act

• in the moral sense

- destroys the inner goodness, the image of God
- prevents the person to actualize his/her true worth

• Accdg. to St. Thomas

- from which the primary and specific goodness of an act
- Human acts are classified into good, evil, or indifferent
by their nature, independent of any command,
regulations, or law
Sources of END: The Motive of the Agent
Morality
 The End
The Motive of the Agent

• the purpose or intention of the agent

• what gives the direction and motivation to an act

• Without a motive, an act is meaningless, an accident.

• good motive=dignity of the human person, truth, justice, prudence and temperance
vs. bad motive = selfishness

• “The End does not Justify the Means.”

• Ethical Principles accdg. to Paul Glenn

1. An evil act which is done on account of an evil motive is grievously wrong.
2. A good action done on account of evil motive becomes evil itself.
3. A good action done on account of a good purpose acquires an additional merit.
4. An indifferent act may either become good or bad depending on the motive.
Sources of
Morality

CIRCUMSTANCES:
circumstances other than the end
of the agent
 Circumstances
• conditions modifying human actionsthe purpose or intention of the agent

• The circumstances affecting the morality of our actions:

1. WHO
- refers primarily to the doer of the act/ at times to the receiver of the act
- includes the age, status, relation, family background, educational attainment, health
and socio-economic situation
2. WHAT
- the object intended
- refers to the extent of the act  Was the injury inflicted serious or slight? Was the
amount stolen large or small?
3. WHERE
- refers to the circumstance of place where the act is committed
4. WHEN
5. WHY
6. HOW
- under what condition  Was the action performed by the agent done in good or bad
faith?
7. WITH WHOM Without a motive, an act is meaningless, an accident.
 Circumstances
• Ethical Principles:
1. Circumstances may either increase or decrease the wrongfulness of an evil act.
2. Circumstances also may either increase or decrease the merits of a good act.
3. Some circumstances may alter the nature of an act.
 OBJECT: The Act in Itself

Sources of END: The Motive of the Agent

Morality

CIRCUMSTANCES:
circumstances other than the end
of the agent
 • A human act to be morally good act must be
found in agreement with the sources of morality on
all three points.

• Bonum exintegra causa, malum ex quocumque

defectu
Sources of - In order to be good, a thing must be totally good, a
single defect renders it evil.
Morality - A human at is considered good only if the object, the
intention and circumstances are good

• Analogy: A man with all the organs functioning

properly
 Sources:
ECCE
CATECHISM FOR FILIPINO
CATHOLICS
Word & Life Publications, 1997

Ramon B. Agapay
ETHICS AND The FILIPINO
Capitol Publishing House, Inc., 1991

Henry Peschke, S.V.D.

CHRISTIAN ETHICS
C. Goodlife Neale, 1975

AlfredoPanizo,O.P.
“Ethics or Moral Philosophy
1964

Emerita S. Quito
“Fundamental Ethics
2002