29 Questions
What is the primary focus of intention in a moral act?
The goal of the activity
What contributes to the moral goodness or evil of human acts?
The circumstances
What did St. Thomas Aquinas assert about justifying an evil action?
An evil action cannot be justified by a good intention
Which of the following is NOT considered as one of the three 'sources' of the morality of human acts?
The end of the activity
In determining the morality of a human act, what specifies the act of willing according to reason?
The object chosen
What is the origin of the word 'Ethics'?
Derived from the Greek word 'ethos'
Which term is sometimes used interchangeably with Ethics?
Moral Philosophy
What is the primary focus of Ethics as a philosophical science?
Concepts of right and wrong behavior
What does the study of Ethics aim to do?
Defend and recommend concepts of right and wrong behavior
Which of the following is NOT among the objectives listed for the end of Module 2?
Judging moral dilemmas based on personal beliefs
What is another term sometimes used to refer to Ethics?
'Moral Science'
Why are human acts considered proper to man?
Because man alone has knowledge and freedom of the will among all animals
What is the importance of knowledge in human acts according to the text?
Knowledge provides a framework for deliberating about the most appropriate techniques to attain the good
What is one of the key characteristics of ethics according to the text?
Ethics involves decision-making and accountability
How does the text describe freedom of the will in human beings?
It is the power that human beings have to decide their actions based on their reasons
Which statement regarding ethics is accurate based on the text?
Ethical conduct may not always be legal
Why are insane persons and three-year-old children not liable for their actions according to the text?
Because they lack the capacity to act with proper knowledge
How does the text differentiate ethics from feelings?
Ethics can deviate from feelings
What role does responsibility play in ethics according to the text?
Responsibility ensures that no one can give what they do not have
Why can't ethics be confined to religion?
Because ethics applies to all individuals, regardless of religious beliefs
How does the text define ethics in relation to axiology and praxis?
Ethics is considered an axiology focusing on practical application according to praxis
How does ethics relate to what society accepts according to the text?
Society's acceptance does not necessarily define what is ethical
What differentiates ethics from law based on the text?
Laws can deviate from ethical principles
What is Imperfect Voluntariness characterized by?
Acting irrationally without awareness or full intention
Which type of voluntariness is exhibited when a person is forced by circumstances beyond their control to perform an action?
Conditional Voluntariness
In Determinants of Morality, what does 'Object Chosen' refer to?
The good toward which the will deliberately directs itself
What does Simple Voluntariness entail?
Doing an act willfully regardless of preference
What does Positive Simple Voluntariness refer to?
An act that requires performance
Who exhibits Imperfect Voluntariness according to the text?
A person acting without full awareness or intention
Study Notes
The Intention
- The intention is a movement of the will toward the end, concerning the goal of the activity
- The end is the first goal of the intention, indicating the purpose pursued in the action
The Circumstances
- The circumstances, including consequences, are secondary elements of a moral act
- They contribute to increasing or diminishing the moral goodness or evil of human acts
- The object, intention, and circumstances make up the three "sources" of the morality of human acts
Morally Good Act
- A morally good act requires the goodness of its object, end, and circumstances together
- An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention
Module 2: Basic Key Concepts in Ethics
- Explain the similarities and differences between "ethics" and "morality"
- Articulate the importance of ethics in one's life
- Judge whether a dilemma is a moral dilemma or not
- Identify which determinants of morality are involved in a certain dilemma
- Demonstrate understanding of fundamental concepts in ethics and morality, such as knowledge, voluntariness, and impartiality
What is Ethics?
- Ethics is derived from the Greek word "ethos," meaning moral character
- Ethics is also called moral philosophy, involving the systematization, defense, and recommendation of concepts of right and wrong behavior
- Ethics is a philosophical science that involves a subject matter with content, a process of decision-making, and well-based standards of right and wrong
Characteristics of Ethics
- Acts that are free and voluntary
- Acts done with knowledge and consent
- Acts that are proper to humans as humans
- Acts that are under human control and for which humans are responsible for their consequences
- Acts for which humans have the power of doing or not doing as they please
Human Acts
- Human acts require moral responsibility derived from a person
- A personal conviction of what is "right and wrong" becomes a social duty that must be put into action
Three-fold Elements of Human Acts
Knowledge
- Awareness or being conscious of one's actions, including their possible consequences
- Provides a framework for deliberating about the most appropriate technique(s) by which the good can be attained
- Example: An insane person and a three-year-old child are not liable for their actions since they are not capable of acting with proper knowledge
Freedom of the Will
- The power that human beings have in determining their actions according to the judgment of their reasons
- Involves a choice or option of whether to do or not to do a certain action
- Without this freedom of choice, responsibility and/or liability on the part of the individual would be meaningless
Voluntariness
- The act of consenting or accepting a certain action, whether it is done whole-heartedly, half-heartedly, or non-heartedly
- Agapay's four modes of voluntariness: perfect, imperfect, conditional, and simple
Determinants of Morality
Object Chosen
- A good toward which the will deliberately directs itself
- The chosen object resides outside the acting subject
- The object chosen morally specifies the act of the will, insofar as reason recognizes and judges it to be or not to be in conformity with the true good
Test your knowledge on ethics as a decision-making process and the study of ethical standards. Explore concepts such as right and wrong, accountability, societal benefits, and virtues.
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