Human Acts and Accountability Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What distinguishes a human act from an act of man?

Acts of man are always morally good.

Human acts are performed without awareness.

Human acts are intentional and voluntary. (correct)

Acts of man involve deliberation and reflection.

Which of the following is NOT a basic element of human acts?

Voluntariness

Instinct (correct)

Freedom

Deliberation

What primarily determines the morality of a human act?

The means used to achieve the end

The societal acceptance of the action

The act itself and the intention behind it (correct)

The consequence of the action

Why is intention important in assessing the morality of an act?

It defines the act's capability for good or evil. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about motives or intentions is TRUE?

An indifferent act can become morally good depending on the intention. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the 'act itself' in the context of moral evaluation?

What the person is doing Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario illustrates an intrinsically good act that could receive added goodness?

Volunteering to help the homeless out of genuine compassion. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect should be considered when determining if an act is morally accountable?

Whether the act was performed with awareness and deliberation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding intrinsically evil acts?

Intrinsically evil acts cannot be morally justified despite the motive. Signup and view all the answers

What type of circumstances increase the degree of moral evil in an act?

Aggravating circumstances Signup and view all the answers

Which circumstance allows a person charged with murder to vindicate themselves?

Justifying circumstances Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a mitigating circumstance?

A sudden provocation leading to sudden rage. Signup and view all the answers

How do specifying circumstances affect the moral quality of an act?

They define a new type of moral good or evil for the act. Signup and view all the answers

What does the moral goodness or badness of an act depend on?

The object of the act, the intention behind it, and the surrounding circumstances. Signup and view all the answers

If a murder is committed by a spouse against their partner, what type of circumstance does this represent?

Specifying circumstance Signup and view all the answers

When is it acceptable to combine good intentions with intrinsically evil acts?

It is never acceptable regardless of the situation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Human Acts and Accountability

Definition of Human Acts (actus humani): Actions taken by individuals characterized by conscious knowledge, freedom, and voluntariness.
Acts of Man: Non-deliberate actions occurring naturally, without conscious awareness or consent, shared with animal behavior. They lack moral responsibility.

Basic Elements of Human Acts

Deliberation: Actions must be purposeful and performed by a conscious agent aware of their consequences.
Freedom: Acts require free will, allowing the agent to act voluntarily based on personal volition.
Voluntariness: Actions should originate from the individual's core self, indicating a willful decision.

Major Determinants of Morality

The Acts Itself (Object): The specific action taken by an agent, forming the essence of the moral act.
Motive (Intention): The purpose behind the action; answers "Why does a person act?" It connects the act to a broader goal or end.

Principles of Motives or Intention

Indifferent Acts: Can be morally good or bad depending on the agent’s intention (e.g., the intent behind speaking).
Good Acts with Bad Motives: An objectively good action becomes morally corrupt if driven by bad intentions (e.g., helping with ulterior motives).
Intrinsically Good Acts: Gain added moral value when performed with noble intentions (e.g., praying for peace).
Intrinsically Evil Acts: Remain morally unacceptable even if performed with good intentions (e.g., stealing for charity).

Importance of Circumstances

Moral quality of an act is influenced by both the act/object and the motive, alongside surrounding circumstances.
Circumstances: Conditions outside the act itself that can influence moral assessment.

Types of Circumstances

Mitigating/Extenuating: Diminish the moral severity or culpability of an act (e.g., reduced punishment for homicide).
Aggravating: Increase the moral culpability (e.g., murder committed with premeditated planning).
Justifying: Provide a rationale for the act, such as self-defense in a murder case.
Specifying: Change the moral categorization based on specific factors (e.g., the relationship between perpetrator and victim).

Ethical Maxim

"The End Should Always Justify The Means. The Means Should Always Justify the End.": Emphasizes the relevance of both outcomes and methods in moral evaluation.

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Description

Test your understanding of human acts and their moral implications in this quiz. Explore concepts such as deliberation, freedom, and voluntariness, along with the determinants of morality including intention. Perfect for students of philosophy or ethics.