Human Acts and Their Constituents

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Questions and Answers

What does absolute violence do to the concept of voluntariness in actions?

It enhances the voluntariness of the action.

It allows for some voluntary choices in actions.

It implies that a person can choose not to act.

It completely removes voluntariness from the forced action. (correct)

Which of the following statements is true about actions resulting from force of habit?

They never contribute to a person's moral integrity.

They are always involuntary regardless of circumstances.

They can be voluntary if one makes an effort to counteract them. (correct)

They are considered acts of man in every instance.

What should a person confronted with violence do when resistance is impossible?

Offer intrinsic resistance by withholding consent. (correct)

Accept the situation to avoid further harm.

Cooperate fully with the aggressor.

Fight back regardless of the consequences.

How does an opposed habit affect voluntariness according to the content?

It can lessen voluntariness and may preclude it completely. Signup and view all the answers

What does the moral responsibility of a person faced with an unjust aggressor depend on?

The level of fear and threat to one's life. Signup and view all the answers

What is invincible ignorance?

Ignorance one is unaware of or unable to correct. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of ignorance lessens accountability but does not eliminate it?

Vincible ignorance Signup and view all the answers

How does affected ignorance impact moral accountability?

It increases the malice of actions. Signup and view all the answers

What are passions classified as in terms of their order of occurrence related to an act?

Antecedent and consequent passions Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the principle governing antecedent passions?

They reduce accountability without completely obstructing freedom. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of consequent passions?

They arise from the will's full consent to emotions. Signup and view all the answers

Crimes of passion are considered voluntary because:

They occur under the influence of strong emotions. Signup and view all the answers

To which type of ignorance does a person actively choose to remain ignorant in order to avoid blame?

Affected ignorance Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes human acts from acts of man?

Human acts involve free will and deliberation, whereas acts of man do not. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a constituent of a human act?

Emotional State Signup and view all the answers

What enhances accountability in the context of consequent passions?

They are the direct results of a fully consenting will. Signup and view all the answers

How are passions defined in terms of their moral nature?

They are indifferent and not intrinsically evil. Signup and view all the answers

What is defined as actions performed without deliberation and free will?

Acts of Man Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes acts done with fear according to the principles governing fear?

They are voluntary, as one acts in spite of fear. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario illustrates a case of vincible ignorance?

A person fails to understand a law they haven't studied. Signup and view all the answers

To be considered truly voluntary, an act must originate from which aspect of a person?

Core being Signup and view all the answers

In what situation are acts considered involuntary due to fear?

When acted upon during intense fear or panic. Signup and view all the answers

What is defined as violence in the provided content?

Any physical force compelling a person against their will. Signup and view all the answers

What impact do modifiers have on human acts?

They can increase or diminish culpability. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding freedom in human acts?

Freedom ensures the act is performed without any external influences. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a form of violence as described?

Persuasion Signup and view all the answers

Which condition must be met for a human act to be considered deliberate?

The agent must fully understand the consequences of their actions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of passions in human behavior according to the content?

They serve as instruments for self-preservation. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about fear and accountability is accurate?

Extreme fear can render actions involuntary and free from blame. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Human Acts

A human act is different from an act of man. Acts of man are shared with animals (e.g., breathing, digestion) and done without deliberation or free will, while human acts are performed with knowledge, freedom, and voluntariness.

Constituents of a Human Act

Knowledge: The act must be deliberate, performed by a conscious agent aware of their actions and consequences (good or evil).
Freedom: The act must be performed freely, with the agent’s own volition and power, without duress or external influence.
Voluntariness: The act must be done willfully, with the agent’s resolve to perform the act, stemming from their core being.

Modifiers of Human Acts

Modifiers are factors that affect a person's mental and emotional state, influencing the culpability of an act. They affect the qualities of knowledge, freedom, and voluntariness, making human acts less perfect.

Ignorance

Ignorance is the absence of knowledge one should have in a given situation. It is either vincible (easily remedied) or invincible (unconquerable).
Vincible Ignorance: Can be overcome with reasonable effort and diligence; it lessens the voluntariness and accountability of an act, and acting with vincible ignorance is considered imprudent.
Invincible Ignorance: Doesn’t allow the individual to be aware of their ignorance, leading to involuntary action and non-accountability for the act.
Affected Ignorance: A person deliberately chooses to remain ignorant to escape blame, which increases their malice.

Principles Governing Ignorance

Invincible ignorance renders an act involuntary, as the person is not aware of their own ignorance.
Vincible ignorance lessens voluntariness and accountability, as the ignorance could have been dispelled with effort.
Affected ignorance doesn’t excuse a person from their actions, as it was a choice made to escape accountability.

Passions or Concupiscence

Strong, powerful feelings or emotions, also referred to as bodily appetites, sentiments, or desires.
Include both positive (love, joy) and negative emotions (fear, anger).
Classified as antecedent (precede the act, predisposing a person to act) and consequent (direct results of the will, fully consenting to them).

Principles Governing Passions

Antecedent passions don’t always destroy voluntariness but diminish accountability for the resulting action. They weaken willpower but don’t completely obstruct freedom.
Consequent passions don't lessen voluntariness; they can even increase accountability, as the person chooses to be controlled by them.

Fear

Disturbance of mind when confronted with an impending danger to oneself or loved ones.
A passion prompting impulsive avoidance of a threat, with bodily disturbances.
A test of one’s mental character.

Principles Governing Fear

Acts done with fear are voluntary, as the person acts in spite of fear, retaining control.
Acts done due to intense fear or panic are involuntary, exempting the person from moral accountability.

Violence

Physical force exerted against a person to compel them to act against their will.
Includes acts involving brutal force, like torture or mutilation.

Principles Governing Violence

Any action resulting from violence is involuntary, as the person has no consent.
When experiencing extreme fear from an aggressor, a person may not be morally responsible for their action, as resistance is impossible.
Absolute violence excludes all voluntariness, as lack of consent eliminates the human act.

Habit

A constant and easy way of doing things acquired through repetition of the same act.
Facility for acting in a certain manner, born of repeated actions.

Principles Governing Habit

Actions done by force of habit are voluntary in their cause, unless an effort is made to counteract the habit.
Deliberate admitted habits don't lessen voluntariness, and their actions are voluntary in their cause.
Opposed habits lessen voluntariness, sometimes completely, weakening the intellect and will.
When actively fighting a habit, actions may be regarded as acts of man, as the person is making effort to change.

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Description

Explore the distinction between human acts and acts of man in this quiz. Understand the essential constituents of a human act, including knowledge, freedom, and voluntariness, as well as the modifiers that can impact these qualities. Test your understanding of how these concepts influence moral culpability.