Volunteerism of

Human Act
Objectives:
• Interpret with initiatives in humanitarian action if it
comes will be freely conducted with the guidance
of mind
• The actions to be taken are determined
• Proves using rational, conscious and willed man
humanitarian gesture, so he is responsible for the
accuracy or inaccuracy of it.
• Determine actions that make a way to have an
accountability and responsibility.
• Answer honestly the diagnostic test.
• Have you experience receiving an
unexpected favors from a
complete stranger?
• What kind of help or favor did you
received?
• What did you feel after the
incident?
 HUMAN ACTS
- Human acts are acts we perform knowingly,
freely, and deliberately. There is knowledge of
what and why we do it, we have the capacity
to do or not to do the act. There is willingness
and voluntariness
- Is an act which proceeds from the
knowledge of intellect and the free
decision of the human will.
~ Thomas Aquinas
 Human Acts are important because of the following
reasons:
• Acts can make us the kind of person we are. They can
change the attitude and character. They can also determine
the kind of person we can be in the future. In short, what
we are and will become depends largely on our actions.
• Acts can affect other people. What we can do can affect life
of others whether good or bad. When we perform our work
well, others receive good service. We may not be able to ask
others to do the things we want but we can influence them.
• Acts can affect the environment. From simply throwing of
litter to illegal logging, we can damage and in long run
destroy the environment. By simply turning the lights off
when not in use, we can save energy.
HUMAN ACTS vs ACTS OF HUMAN
Done without using
Morally imputed reason and will.
Ex. Digestion, growth,
undertakings movements of the
and must have blood and the veins
adequate
Note: this is not
knowledge and controlled by the will
freedom and don’t require
understanding.
DETERMINANTS of HUMAN ACTS

human act object

intention

circumstances
 Object or nature
• It refers to the thing with which the action is
principally involved.

• Ex: helping an old woman cross the street

: telling the truth
:defending the abused

In order for the a human act to be morally good,

the object or nature must also be good.
 Intention
• It refers to the end or purpose of the act.

• Ex: donation for the victim of the affected calamities

– (if the doer want to help - the intention is good)
– (if the doer want to impress from social media –
the intention is bad)

In order for the human act to qualify as good

the person (doer of act) must have a good
intention.
 Circumstances
• It refers to the event, time, occasion in which
the person is involved

• Ex: killed an oppressor out of self-defense

:lying in order to get out from humiliation

Circumstances must be considered in

evaluating the quality of human act, since all
human actions transpire in different time and
situation.
Valuing virtue
• KINDNESS
~is defined as the behavior of displaying
a pleasant disposition and concern for
other people.
~a virtue of being helpful towards
someone.