1. Understanding the Moral Act
Arsenic and Old Lace

2. bad act
Happiness
good act
bad act

3. X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$1,000,000 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

4. O I C! 1750 The morality of human acts depends on: —the object chosen;
—the end in view or the intention;
—the circumstances of the action.
The object, the intention, and the circumstances make up the “sources,” or constitutive elements, of the morality of human acts.

5. When, where, how, to whom it is being done
Sources of Morality:
Why it is being done
The End
What is being done
The Object
Circumstances
When, where, how, to whom it is being done

6. GIVING PAIN MEDICATION
Circumstances
END
(Form)
OBJECT OF THE ACT
(Matter)
In extreme pain
TO EASE PAIN
(Form)
GIVING PAIN MEDICATION
(Matter)

7. Intrinsically Evil Act
Circumstances
END
(Form)
OBJECT OF THE ACT
(Matter)
Intrinsically Evil Act

8. OVERDOSING ON MEDICATION Intrinsically Evil Act
In extreme pain
TO END SUFFERING
(Form)
OVERDOSING ON MEDICATION
(Matter)
Intrinsically Evil Act

9. Circumstances
The End
All
Three
Must be
Good!
The Object
The Moral Act

10. The external act becomes good or bad by sharing in the morality
One Moral Whole
Internal Act:
the will’s consenting to
an act with its
object, end, and circumstances
External Act:
the execution of the
will’s decision
primary seat of
morality
The external act becomes good or bad by sharing in the morality
of the internal act.

11. ? ULTIMATE END Internal act END
Is the end my will seeks in its internal act in accord with my Ultimate End?

12. ? Objective The Object External act Moral Norms
Is the object of this external act good?
Is what I am doing in accord with objective moral norms?

13. ? ? ? The two dimensions of the moral act unite as form and matter
to give us the full ethical picture. ?
Circumstances
END
(Form)
OBJECT OF THE ACT
(Matter)
Is it in accord with the Ultimate End?
Internal act
Is it good?
External act ? ?

14. Flawed Moral Theories Abelard and Heloise
Abelard = primacy of intention

15. Consequentialism: i.e. the end justifies the means
basic consequentialism
scenario
egoism - utilitarianism

16. deontology kant and deontology
athiest kid on consequentialism and deontology

17. Crisis of truth (see VS)

18. Slippery slopes
Humanae Vitae – predictions of the effects of a ‘contraceptive mentality’ on the underwstanding of ‘woman’, the institution of marriage and the govt.’s respect for conscience….

19. Eg. emotions Too little= neurosis Too much = hedonism

20. Eg. Virtue (hope) Too little= despair Too much = presumption
Too little= neurosis
Too much = hedonism

21. Some ‘isms’ found in Veritatis Splendor
Relativism
Individualism
Absolutism
Naturalism
Secularism
Etc…

22. Relativism
Says truth is subjective
So…..what are the consequences?

23. Principle of non-contradiction
Something cannot “be and not be” at the same time

24. Absolutism Exaltation of __________
Examples: In the name of tolerance and freedom , religious institutions are illegal if they _______________
Catholic Charities adoption agencies have been closed b/c they don’t give babies to ‘everyone’
HHS mandate
Public buildings/ funds can’t be accessible to those who ‘discriminate’

25. Individualism Combo….all is subject to your opinion Moral autonomy
relativism
absolutism
Combo….all is subject to your opinion
Moral autonomy
N.B. – truth finds unity in diversity

26. Naturalism (physicalism, scientism)
Opposite of freedom
Man is controlled by nature/environment

27. secularism Religious freedom vs. freedom of worship
Compartmentalizes ‘faith’
Faith
-a 24/7 thing
-Compatible with all truth
-give to Caesar what is Caesars