Lecture Voluntary Act 2024.pdf

Week 4 HED 2101 PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS COURSE FACILITATOR: DR. MARIA ROSARIO CATACUTAN  These course notes were prepared by Maria Rosario G. Catacutan, PhD, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Strathmore University for purposes of teaching the unit Principles of Ethics for the semester...

Week 4 HED 2101 PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS COURSE FACILITATOR: DR. MARIA ROSARIO CATACUTAN  These course notes were prepared by Maria Rosario G. Catacutan, PhD, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Strathmore University for purposes of teaching the unit Principles of Ethics for the semester August to November 2024 The author requests that her permission be obtained by any student or lecturer of the university who wishes to use this presentation for purposes other than what is intended by the author. Anthropological analysis of the human act Readings: P. Debeljuh , Ethics Learning to Live, Chapter 3 C. Dean, Course notes (an adaptation of Chapter 3, Ethics Learning to Live), uploaded on the elearning Introduction In the first session, we discussed that human actions constitute the material object of ethics. Ethics is concerned with human actions or those actions that we carry out using our reason (intelligence) and will These actions are also known as ‘voluntary acts’ In this class we will discuss in detail the different aspects of the voluntary act Before we discuss the voluntary act, we will review some concepts covered in Philosophical Anthropology In this session The person as author of behaviour Anthropological analysis of the human act The voluntary act as an intentional act The direct and indirect object of the will The link between knowing and willing in human acts The different types of human acts Activity: In class reading Individually, read the notes on the e-learning (Course Notes: The Person as author of human behaviour Part 1 and Part 2) and answer the following questions Activity: Group text reading Part 1 The acting person 1. Define person 2. What are three characteristics of persons according to Boethius? Explain each of these using your own words. 3. The human body is a substantial unity of body and soul. What is the significance of this statement from the perspective of ethics? Activity: Group text reading Part 2 Anthropological analysis of the human act 5. Define voluntary act. Explain the meaning of this definition. 6. The voluntary act has four characteristics: conscious, active, guided by reason and self- referential. Briefly explain the meaning of the term “self-referential”. Activity: Group text reading 7. What is the human will? Is it different from our intellect? How are they related? 8. In the sub-section, the direct and indirect object of the will, what does the term “object” mean? 9. What is the “direct object” of the will? 10. What are the three types of “goods” that the will can desire? Explain the meaning of each term and give an example 11. What is the meaning of the term “indirect object” of the will? Activity: Group text reading Part 3 The link between knowing and willing in human acts 12. Briefly explain the different acts of the intellect and the acts of the will that intervene in the voluntary act 13. Explain the different types of human acts. Give an example of each  The acting person Short Review of Philosophical Anthropology The acting person What is the human person? What is the definition of the human person? What makes the human person different/distinct from other non-human beings? What is the distinctive characteristic of the human person? Is man ‘just a body’? Why are these concepts about the human person important for ethics (philosophical study of human actions)? Definition of person From Latin: personare – to sound (mask) – role played by the actor as shown through his mask Boethius: an individual substance of a rational nature Analysis of Boethius’ definition 3 components: substantiality, individuality, rationality Substantiality: a substance is something that exists by itself Individuality: – is “not” an idea; a singular (distinct) reality that exists different from everything else – Abortion debate: a woman has a right to choose what she wants to do with “her” own body – Is the unborn child a different individual from the mother? – Is the unborn child a distinct reality from the mother? – Babies have their own fingerprints…ultrasound => own heart, own organs, – Unborn child is a “mass of tissue” => same as removing a tumor from the body Analysis of Boethius’ definition 3 components: substantiality, individuality, rationality Substantiality: a substance is something that exists by itself – John, my pet dog, the colour green – John and dog are substances; the colour green is not – John is a person; the dog is not because it does not have rationality Individuality: – is “not” an idea; a singular (distinct) reality that exists different from everything else Spirituality or rationality: – What makes us human? Rationality. => intellect and will – This rationality is due to our spiritual dimension. – So the “first formal element of our nature is spirit (the soul) rather than matter” Definition of person The human person is a substantial unity of body (matter) and soul (spirit) The soul is “that” which makes the person be a human person Due to the soul, man is essentially different from animals (unique, unrepeatable, moral being) The dignity of the human person resides in the soul that gives life to the body Implication for ethics? Man’s unity of body and soul has important implications for ethics. Every human act involves the body and soul (p. 95) Every human act involves an intention (interior act originating from the soul) and bodily manifestation (external realization originating from the body) We express our interior world (spirit) through our body (smile, cry) All our actions form a unity: it is not just the eyes that “see” but we attribute human actions to the (entire) person – For example we do not normally say: “my hands dropped the glass” but “I dropped the glass” We are responsible for actions that we carry out freely What is a voluntary act? What is a voluntary action? What is a voluntary action? Actions done out of one’s free will (we do it because “we want to” as opposed to acting under duress or coercion by another) – “I do something because I want to” shows that we have “free will”, “freedom” – It means we give our “consent” to performing an action (as opposed to being ‘forced’) It also requires that we act using our “reason”: with sufficient “information” or “knowledge” of the action being carried out (“informed consent”) Definition of voluntary act The voluntary act is the act that proceeds from an intrinsic principle, with formal knowledge of the goal [of the action] – Assess the degree of responsibility we have over our actions Check for the meaning of the words “intrinsic” and “principle” in the dictionary  The voluntary act proceeds from an intrinsic principle Proceeds or “comes from” an intrinsic principle Intrinsic vs. extrinsic (outside, exterior, external) Principle: “source” Voluntary act comes from an “inner source” and not from something external to the person who is acting The voluntary act proceeds from an intrinsic principle Intrinsic principle means “within the person”: the source is the person’s free will Give examples of actions that you do out of your free will and not forced by somebody else We are morally responsible ONLY for actions that we carried out voluntarily (our voluntary actions) – If you were forced by someone to do an action AGAINST YOUR WILL, then that action is not voluntary; therefore you are not MORALLY RESPONSIBLE for it – Moral responsibility goes hand in hand with ownership of the action (you own the action if you do it voluntarily) The voluntary act is done with knowledge of the goal Intention, intent, purpose, goal are synonymous terms: they all mean “what one intends to accomplish or attain” The voluntary act as an ‘intentional’ act Characteristics: the person acting is conscious, active, guided by reason, self referential The voluntary act as an ‘intentional’ act Active: the action is an initiative of the person The voluntary act as an ‘intentional’ act Self referential-not a common English word Voluntary acts affect the person (self) who carries them out. They leave an impact. Our voluntary actions are never neutral: either make us better persons or worse persons I am just saying a “small lie” (voluntary act) = not hurting anyone BUT we are hurting ourselves (small lie will transform us=> lead us to become BIG LIARS) Reverse the process: bad habit of lying => can reverse that=> making small acts of honesty (override) => eventually overcome bad habit of lying The “goal” of a voluntary act In every voluntary act, the person who acts knows the goal which he wishes to attain in this act This goal is also known as the “object” of the will Voluntary act = intellect + will In every voluntary act, the will is attracted to a “good” (thing/person/activity); this “good” is known as the “object” of the will (p. 97) – Review of PA The object of the will can be categorized into “direct” and “indirect” object (p.101) Review: Philosophical anthropology What is the will? A capacity of the human soul that inclines us to want good things that we have known using our intellect. – A capacity of the human soul It is a spiritual capacity – That inclines us towards a good thing It is an appetite/ tendency – That we have known using our intellect It is an intellectual tendency/ rational appetite 31 Types of goods that attract the will (p. 102) Direct object Indirect object (to be discussed in another of the will chapter) Pleasurable Honest good Useful good good References Course Notes (elearning) Chapter 3, Ethics Learning to Live (pp 101-103) Honest, pleasurable, useful good Useful good – something we desire as a means to an end Delectable (pleasurable) good – something we desire because it produces pleasure, satisfaction, joy, etc. Honest good – something we desire for its own sake and not for the sake of something else Honest, pleasurable, useful good? money College degree music Love for our parents friendship Good personal qualities Different types of human acts (p.106) References Course Notes (elearning) Chapter 3, Ethics Learning to Live (pp 106-109) Review: What is a voluntary act? Actions done out of one’s free will (we do it because “we want to” as opposed to acting under duress or coercion by another) Also actions done using our “reason”: with sufficient “information” or “knowledge” of the action being carried out Types of human acts Internal actions vs. external actions Good actions, bad actions, indifferent actions Commanded actions, elicited actions Perfectly voluntary actions, imperfectly voluntary actions, involuntary actions Types of human acts Depending on whether the action has an external manifestation or not Internal actions: actions carried out “inside” a person but we do not ‘externalize’ it “to dislike someone in secret” without showing it openly to this person External actions: actions that other people can observe (see, hear, etc) “to dislike someone and I openly show it by avoiding to speak with that person” Types of human acts Depending on whether the action is in line with the moral order or not Good actions – when the person chooses an honest good that perfects the person [or when the person’s action is in line with the good of the person and moral law] e.g. keeping promises, telling the truth Bad actions – when the person’s action goes against the good of the person and the moral order – e.g. cheating, lying Indifferent actions – when the person’s actions are neither good or bad (take coffee, sit down, stand up) Strictly speaking however there are no morally indifferent acts. All free acts have a moral value which comes from the intention with which the person carries out the act. Types of human acts Depending on whether the action is executed using other powers or not Commanded acts–actions that we carry out using our intellect, our senses and other powers, under the influence of the will (intended and executed) I have decided to go to bed at 9pm; so at 9pm, my will “commands” (1) my mind to stop accessing the internet; (2) my hands to disconnect from the phone; (3) my legs to walk toward my room Elicited acts –actions that we carry out that strictly originate from our will (intended but not executed) What is the proper act of the will? To love (and the opposite is to hate) I have decided to live a healthy lifestyle Types of human acts Depending on the degree of voluntariness of an action Perfectly voluntary – The person is fully aware of what they are doing and fully agrees with or consents perfectly to the act Imperfect voluntary – Imperfect formal knowledge of the goal (person is not fully aware of what he is doing) or imperfection in how the will adheres to its object (lack of full consent). Involuntary actions – The person is not aware of what they are doing and has done the action without conscious control (reflex actions) Link between knowing and willing References Course Notes (elearning) Chapter 3, Ethics Learning to Live (pp 103-105) In class reading Using the course notes, identify the different acts of the intellect and the acts of the will that intervene in the voluntary act How the intellect and will interact in the voluntary act Review of PA The human will as the faculty of the spiritual soul that inclines us to pursue or strive for good things that have been previously grasped -as good-by our intelligence (Mimbi) The intellect ‘initiates’ the process of the voluntary act The will pursues the ‘good’ as previouslyunderstood by the intellect The process of the voluntary act begins with the first act of the intellect: “first apprehension of the goal” Process of the voluntary act Acts of the intellect Acts of the will I. Order of intention a. Acts that pertain to goal/end b. Acts that pertain to the means to an end II. Order of execution Process of the voluntary act How the intellect and will interact in the voluntary act Step 1. Simple apprehension of the goal (act of the intellect) “I am very tired because of work at school, it will be good for me to rest this weekend” I need to rest => that is my goal, what I think is ‘good’ for me Step 2. Simple volition (act of the will)- at this stage, the will ‘agrees’ with the intellect It is a good idea, I should rest…. How the intellect and will interact in the voluntary act Step 3. Judgment on the goal: the intellect evaluates whether the goal can be achieved or not I have some time this weekend, so it is possible to do something to relax Step 4. Intention: the will ‘agrees’ with the judgment of the intellect I definitely need to do something relaxing this weekend How the intellect and will interact in the voluntary act Step 5. Deliberation about the means- the intellect considers the various options available to achieve the goal “I have thought about 3 possible things I can do to rest this weekend: visit my friends, watch a movie at home, do some shopping Step 6. Consent - the will ‘accepts’ or ‘rejects’ the means considered by the intellect I ‘want’ these options for resting: visit my friends, watch a movie or go shopping How the intellect and will interact in the voluntary act Step 7. Judgment for choosing: the intellect evaluates the best option I think the best option is “to visit my friend” because I have not seen her for some time Step 8. Choice: the will takes the internal decision concerning the means I choose to visit my friend this coming weekend How the intellect and will interact in the voluntary act Step 9. Rational Command- when the person has decided what to do, the next step is to “organize” the activity of the various faculties and powers – The intellect and will ‘organize’ and ‘sets in motion’ the other operative powers – I need to “text her and ask if she will be around this weekend”, “organize my timetable so I can be out of the house by 3pm”, etc. 10. Enjoyment of the good possessed: once the goal is achieved, the will elicits an emotion such as joy – I had a great time being with my friend, it was a good way to rest this weekend How the intellect and will interact in the voluntary act Why do we need to study this topic? Implications? – Appreciate the complexity of our actions-goal/end (what we want to achieve), means (how we want to achieve it), execution (whether we actually achieved it or not) – End/goal: If we don’t have ‘goals’, we will never initiate any action, we will never get to the ‘execution’ stage Are you bored? Do something!! Have ambitious goals. Aim higher! How the intellect and will interact in the voluntary act Why do we need to study this topic? Implications? – Means: The means to achieve our goals are equally important I want to excel in life but what means do I propose to achieve this? (Need to deliberate and carefully choose) – Execution: “Good intentions are not enough”. Complete the voluntary act: move from intention to action. “I really want to study everyday” “I want to improve my grades” (good intention) “I actually stopped watching TV after dinner.. Anyway it is really a waste of time” or “I will stop using my phone, go to bed on time so I can be alert during class tomorrow” (execution) End of presentation