The Morality of

Human Acts
Chapter V
Morality
-It is the quality by which we classify a
human act as morally good or morally evil.
-Goodness or badness of an act

*The relation existing between human acts

and the norms of morality.
Human act is…
MORALLY GOOD
--if it is done in accordance with God’s
law and human reason.
MORALLY EVIL
--if it is done in violation of God’s law
and human reason.

***Morality cannot exist, however, without two basic factors: the

determinants and norms , without which, we cannot speak of morals.
Determinants of Morality

1.The act itself and its object

2.The end of the agent
3.circumstances
The act and its object
• Refers to the very nature of the act itself
• An act is a physical tendency towards a definite
objective or result.
• End of the act(finis operis)
• End of the agent(finis operantis)
• A morally good act must agree with the norms
of morality.
• Must be good by itself
• Good objectives
• So in circumstances
A human act becomes evil if it fails
to conform in anyone of the
determinants.

That the act is good in itself is not

good enough; it must also be good
too in its circumstances and its
end.
The end of the agent
The end of the agent in performing the act is
that which the agent wishes to obtain by means
of the act.
BUT…
The goodness of the end cannot justify the
evil means to become good.
…A good lady applies for a job..(read)
 Principles for our guide in formulating
our ends of action…

A.“An objectively good act done for a good end

merits goodness from such end.
 The more good ends a good act obtains,
the more meritorious the act become.
Principles cont…..

“An objectively evil act done for an evil

purpose takes new evil from the evil end of the
agent.”
 If the evil are numerous, so the numerous
too shall be the malice taken from the evil
ends.
Principles cont…..

“An act which is objectively good but done for

evil purpose takes new evil from the evil end of
the agent.”
Principles cont…..

“An objectively evil act can never become good

by reason of good end.”
 As stated before, an act to be morally good
must be good in all the 3 determinants.
Principles cont…..

“An act which is indifferently objectively may

become evil if its intended end is evil.”
 If the evil are numerous, so the numerous
too shall be the malice taken from the evil
ends.
Circumstances
Are the prevailing conditions within the
environment in which the act was performed.
These affect the performance of the act.
Place, time, people, the physical condition
of the place
Whom, where, what, when, why and means
circumstances.
 Moral Principles arising from the
determinant of circumstances

An indifferent act becomes morally good or

morally evil depending on the circumstances

An act that is evil in itself can never be converted

good by circumstances.

A circumstances which is not gravely evil does not

totally damage the goodness of an objectively good
act.
 NORMS OF MORALITY

Norms?
Ignacio—rule, standard, measure
Gauge the goodness or evilness of an act.

It is something with which an act conforms to

be morally good; or violate to be morally evil;
and neutral to be morally indifferent.
 Two norms of Morality
Eternal Law of God
Ultimate norms of human act
Independent by any measure

Human Reason of Man

The conscience of the person telling him
internally what ought to do.
This two norms appear to be one and the same since they
both have the same goal: to guide and direct human act.
Law
Rule of action, or a principle of conduct (Babor:165)
An ordinance of reason promulgated for the common
good by the one who was charge of society.
A law as an ordinance
Means that it is an order coming from a
legitimate authority. A law is not a request, it
is a command.
A law as an ordinance of reason
A law is not a product of the whims of the
lawmakers, but the result of intellectual and
rational study. As a product of reason, the law
saw to it that the following qualities are present.
A. A law must be just
B. A law must be honest
C. It is possible to be fulfilled
D. It is useful as guide to attain a goal
E. It must be relatively permanent
F. It must be promulgated.
 A law must be promulgated
This means that the law must be publicized in
order to be made known to the people who will
be subjected to it. The law takes effect only when
the subjects are aware of it.
A law must be for the common good
A law which covers not a mere single
individual but a group of people or society,
must serve the public good.
A law must be promulgated in society
A law is applicable only to a community or
society, to social institution like the state and
church.
 A law must be promulgated
by one who has charge of society

The “one” refers to the legitimate lawgivers,

be it one-person or group of persons.
CLASSIFICATION
OF LAWS
Eternal Law
St. Augustine defines:
“the Divine Reason and will commanding that
the natural order of things be preserved and
forbidding that it be disturbed.”

St. Thomas Aquinas defines:

God’s eternal plan and providence for alll
created things, directing them towards their
ultimate end.
Natural Law
This is an innate universal command
engraved in the very heart of every man and
woman regardless of time and place.
 Innate in human beings, not acquired.
 Part of mans nature and it is a command,
an order, demanding to be fulfilled.
 Other Classifications of Laws

--BY AUTHOR--

1. DIVINE LAWS
 These laws are authored by God, such as Ten
Commandments.
2. HUMAN LAWS
 Authored by the church or by the state, or by
institutions
 Church-ecclesiastical law
 State-Civil Laws
 Other Classifications of Laws

--BY DURATION--

1. TEMPORAL LAWS
 Refers to all laws made by man, whether it is
enacted by the church or by the state.
Generally subject to time and place. They are
not permanent or absolute.
2. ETERNAL LAW
 As stated before, eternal law is God’s plan and
providence for the universe.
 Other Classifications of Laws

--BY PROMULGATION--
1. NATURAL LAW
 Innate and not acquired
 Directing creatures towards their respective
and proper ends in accordance with their
respective nature.
2. POSITIVE LAW
 Man made laws enacted by the church and
sate authorities.
 Other Classifications of Laws

--BY PRESCRIPTION--

1. AFFIRMATIVE LAWS
 Kind of laws that are binding in nature, but not
necessarily at every moment, however.
2. NEGATIVE LAWS
 These laws are binding always and at every
moment.
 Notanda
The following points should be noted and be remembered
in matters of law.
1. A law exist for the good of man; not man to exist for
the good of the law. A law is made to facilitate the
good of the individuals and society. It is a guide for
him to attain his goals. A law is definitely a MEANS,
not an end for its own sake.
2. A good law is pro-people, not pro-institution.
3. What is legal is not necessarily moral. Thus,
abortion can be legalized; but it remains to be
immoral(murder)
1. An act may be illegal; but can be morally good.
(Religious faith practice in china is illegal, but
morally good.)

2. Love cannot be equated to law, for law is only a

servant of love. DO things not because of law but do
things because of love.

3. A genuine law is morally good, too.

 The greatest law is the Ten
Commandments of God. This is summed
up into two. LOVE OF GOD and LOVE
OF NEIGHBOR.
 CONSCIENCE
• ”The practical judgment of reason upon an
individual act as good and to be performed
or as evil and therefore, to be avoided
• Mind of man passing moral judgment.
• Habitual quality of the intellect enabling it
to know the basic principles of practical
reasoning.
KINDS OF CONSCIENCE
Correct or True Conscience
Correct conscience discerns and dictates to
the person what is good as good, what is
evil as evil.
Erroneous or False Conscience
This conscience mistakes what is good as
evil and what is evil as good.
Scrupulous Conscience
One that is extremely cautious or fearful to
the point that the person refuses to do or
judge the act.
Lax Conscience
This is the opposite of scrupulous conscience. What
is sinful act is judged as not sinful or even good act.
This conscience finds excuses for an evil act to be
not sinful.
Certain Conscience
It is of sure and firm judgment on an act without a
bit of doubt. He acts in the state of good faith.
Doubtful Conscience
Opposite of certain conscience. The subject
suspends judgment of an act because he is not sure
on the goodness and badness.