Sources of Morality of Human Acts

Human beings are creatures with intellect and free will. "Human acts" is a technical term in moral theology that refers to acts which are fully human. That is, they are informed by understanding and choice. A human act is a deliberate act. Sally chooses to have a dish of rum raisin ice cream: human act. In contrast, for our purposes, "an act of a human being" is any act that a human being does. It does not have to be a properly "human act." Jake rolls over in his sleep: act of human being, not a human act. ONLY "HUMAN ACTS" HAVE MORAL QUALITY. -Acts that are not "human acts" like snoring are not deliberate and do not have moral quality. -Many human acts are morally indifferent ordinarily, whether I wear the blue or white shirt, for example. -The moral quality of human acts depends on the object, intention and circumstances.

The act, or thing done, considered from it moral perspective. This just a camera would catch but the moral content of the act. Sammy takes Janes purse from her desk. NOT the OBJECT (Sam getting the purse for Jane). Sammy steals Janes purse; Sammy brings Jane the purse she for home with her. These are moral objects; the first is a bad object second is a good object. Object

Other examples -- all the following are proper moral objects: He decided to murder his mother. The heart patient disobeyed his doctors instructions about avoidi cholesterol. She stole the money. She lied under oath. They drove recklessly while drag racing. She helped her elderly neighbor by shopping for him.

Common errors. He went into the bank and saw the safe was open and unguarded act or decision)

The theology assignment or the homework assignment (no verb). The Church (no verb) She wanted a good grade. ("Want" explains the reason the deed i.e. names the intention, but fails to name what was done.) He wanted a date. (Same problem as the preceding).

The reason the act was done. The object and intention are always

Intention

Sammy stole the purse to get money for drugs (bad intention); Sa the purse to get money to buy food for a hungry homeless man (g intention).

Sammy brought the purse to Jane because he wanted to save her going back to the office (good intention); Sammy brought the pur apartment because he hoped that shed invite him in and have se (bad intention).

Anything pertaining to the act other than the object and intention the consequences. Circumstances do not make an act good or bad they do not affect the moral quality of an act but they do increa goodness or badness of an act.

Sammy took all the cash Jane had in her purse but left her licens cards; or Sammy stole from Jane who is very poor and needed the feed her baby; or Sammy stole from Jane who is quite rich and ne Circumstances the money. In each case the bad act (stealing) is more or less b of circumstances.

Sammy went far out of his to to bring the purse to Jane's apartme Jane has severe arthritis and it would have been punishingly pain have to go back for her purse; or Sammy doesnt particularly like the kind deed for her anyway. In each case the good act is better be under other circumstances. For an HUMAN ACT to be MORALLY GOOD human act to be morally good, the Object AND the Intention have to BOTH be GOOD. The following chart show when an act is morally good and when it is morally bad

Object Good Good Bad Bad

Intention Good Bad Good Bad

Circumstances

Morality of Act Good Bad Bad (note this!) Bad

Can make a good act better or less good, or a bad act worse or less bad, but do not change the moral quality of the act itself.