Conceptual Framework Introduced by Paul Ricoeur You can explore the human capacity to make things happen by asking the following questions about an action: Who? What? Why? How? With whom or against whom? Under what circumstances? With what outcome?

Conceptual Framework Together these questions interact to form the conceptual framework of human action. The meaning of the action shifts depending on the answers to the questions. An action is good only when it fulfills certain conditions.

An action is is not good of itself. The morality of human acts depends on: the object chosen the end in view or the intention the circumstances of the action “An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention.” St. Thomas Aquinas

Circumstances Circumstances contribute to increasing or diminishing the moral goodness or evil of human acts… they can also diminish or increase the agent’s responsibility…(but) of themselves… can make neither good or right an action that is in itself evil. CCC # 1754

SCENARIO #1 Three high school girls planned to kill a former friend because they were afraid that since she had left the gang she would inform the police of their illegal activities. Before killing her, they tortured her by burning her with cigarettes and stabbing her several times with a pen knife. They then shot her and placed her in a garbage can.

Who is the agent? 3 TEENAGED GIRLS What does the agent do? 1 ________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ What are the reasons or motives for the action? 1 __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ How is the action done? 1 ________________________________________________________________________ Under what circumstances is the action done? 1 Are the circumstances aggravating or mitigating? Explain. 2 _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ With or against who is the action done? 1 _________________________________________________________________ What was the outcome? 1 __________________________________________________________________

SCENARIO #2 A friend needed a ride to the subway. However, it was after the subway stopped running so you decided to drive her all the way home, even though the weather was very bad and it was very late.

Who is the agent? YOU What does the agent do? 1 ________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ What are the reasons or motives for the action? 1 __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ How is the action done? 1 ________________________________________________________________________ Under what circumstances is the action done? 1 Are the circumstances aggravating or mitigating? Explain. 2 _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ With or against who is the action done? 1 _________________________________________________________________ What was the outcome? 1 __________________________________________________________________

SCENARIO # 3 Susan was working in her garden when a stranger came by and asked her for directions to a street in the subdivision. Susan gave directions but as the woman was walking away, Susan realized the woman was elderly and it was a hot day for her to walk such a distance. Susan ran into her house and got her car keys and began driving until she found the woman and offered her a ride to her destination

Who is the agent? Susan What does the agent do? 1 ________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ What are the reasons or motives for the action? 1 __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ How is the action done? 1 ________________________________________________________________________ Under what circumstances is the action done? 1 Are the circumstances aggravating or mitigating? Explain. 2 _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ With or against who is the action done? 1 _________________________________________________________________ What was the outcome? 1 __________________________________________________________________

Who is the agent? What does the agent do? 1 ________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ What are the reasons or motives for the action? 1 __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ How is the action done? 1 ________________________________________________________________________ Under what circumstances is the action done? 1 Are the circumstances aggravating or mitigating? Explain. 2 _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ With or against who is the action done? 1 _________________________________________________________________ What was the outcome? 1 __________________________________________________________________