Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ethics
Moral knows what is right and wrong in knowledge and practice Immoral does not know
Amoral does not have the ability to distinguish between what is right and wrong
MORALITY practice of ethics; implementation of ethical principles and laws Material object: HUMAN ACT Formal object: MORALITY of the human act Formal object quo: HUMAN REASON
DIVISION of ethics:
GENERAL --Man and his ends
1. 2. 3.
APPLIED / SPECIAL A. Individual ethics B. Social ethics 1. family 2. state 3. church 4. societal concerns a. bioethics b. human rights c. work ethics d. environmental concerns
All acts tend towards an end. Human existence is an act. Human existence tends toward an end.
What is an END? - reason why an act is performed - it completes an act - that which motivates an agent to perform an act. - GOODNESS
1. Good as to UTILITY useful for ones purpose or satisfaction (maid, H20) 2. Good as to BEAUTY when it satisfies their aesthetic appetite (sexy, painting) 3. Good as to NATURE OR REALITY real, not accidental
Classification of ENDS:
4.
1. End of the ACT where the end is immediately directed. (donating) 2. End of the AGENT can be different or the same as #1 depending on the agent (politician donating) 3. Temporal end good only for a certain place/time - subject to Time and Place - aka intermediary used to attain other ends (money, education) Ultimate End end of all ends - last and final goal of the human act and agent (happiness)
1. 2.
THREE (3) essential Qualities of Human acts: Deliberateagent knows what he is doing + consequences Free w/o strong influence Beyond his control -w/o external force
3. Voluntary will and decision of the agent CLASSIFICATION of HUMAN acts: A. Elicited- will-act which begun and is completed in the will w/o bodily movement. 1. WISH possible or impossible ($) 2. INTENTION attainable but not obligatory (park) 3. CONSENT acceptance of the will (GO!) 4. ELECTION choose from among a variety of means (going to Manila) 5. USE carry out 6. FRUITION enjoyment of the result or outcome
1. Internal Acts purely mental faculties under the command of the will. (meditate, control the emotion) 2. External Acts done by the body as commanded by the will. (talking, writing) 3. Mixed Acts done by both bodily and mental power (sharp shooting, chess playing)
3 Determinants of Morality:
1. ACT - physical tendency towards a result - must be good in itself (though not enough)
2. END OF THE AGENT what the doer wants to attain in performing the act - motivation (apply and hire) 3. CIRCUMSTANCES conditions prevailing w/in the environment in which the act was performed (arson during the night)