6 Questions
Which determinant of morality involves the purpose for which the act is willed?
End
What do circumstances refer to in determining the morality of a human action?
All elements that surround the action
What is required for a human act to be morally good according to the text?
Agreeing with the norm of morality in all three determinants: nature, motive, and circumstances
In what way do circumstances affect the morality of an action?
By changing the degree of goodness or badness
Which term describes circumstances that change the degree of goodness or badness of an act?
Aggravating circumstances
What effect do some circumstances have on the morality of an action?
They affect the morality without changing its essence
Study Notes
Determinants of Morality
- Determinants of morality are the factors in human conduct that determine whether it is good or bad.
Three Determinants of Morality
- The three determinants of morality are the object, the end, and the circumstances.
The Object
- The object refers to what the free will chooses to do or chooses not to do, in thought, word, or deed.
- It is what the person wills to do or not to do.
The End
- The end refers to the purpose for which the act is willed.
- It can be the act itself, such as loving God.
- It can also be some other purpose, such as reading to learn.
- The end is the motive or reason why an action is performed.
The Circumstances
- The circumstances refer to all the elements that surround a human action and affect its morality.
- Examples of circumstances include who, where, how, how much, by what means, and how often.
- Some circumstances can change the species of an action, such as stealing a consecrated object becoming sacrilege.
- Some circumstances can change the degree of goodness or badness of an act, such as aggravating circumstances in bad acts.
- For example, the amount of money a person steals.
Morally Good Action
- For a human act to be morally good, it must agree with the norm of morality on all three counts: in its nature, its motive, and its circumstances.
- Departure from any of these makes the action morally wrong.
Explore the factors in human conduct that determine whether it is good or bad, including the object, the end, and the circumstances. Learn about the purpose for which an act is willed and how it impacts morality.
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