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DETERMINANTS OF
MORALITY
Fatima Nuestro-Bagnol
PolytechnicBansud-Campus
University of the Philippines
B onu
onum
m ex inte
integg ra ca
caus
us a, ma
malum ex
“
”
quocum
qu
ocumque
que de
defe
fectu
ctu
Thing is good from the perfection of its
o
o
parts,
evil from any defect of its part.
part.
A human act to be morally acceptable must be morally
perfect in all its aspects.
determina
The determi
nants
nts of Mora
Mor ali ty.
o
They are the basis for judging whether an act is good or evil.

T he E nd of the A c tt- is the natural termination
termination or completion of an act.

the end of the act determines whether an act is intrinsically or extrinsically
good or evil. Any act which is consistent with the natural tendencies of human
naturesuch
is intrinsically
But those
that are
contrary
to reason
are
intrinsically
evils,
as murder
murder,good.
, abortion,
kidnapping,
robbery
. We
speak of
these
acts as
being contrary to natural law.

Actions which are neutral or indifferent to the norm of morality are extrinsically
good or evil. These actions are either good or bad, not on account of their
nature, but because of factors or circumstances concomitant to them.

The act of eating is an amoral act and is neither morally good or bad. But either
overe
ove
reati
ating
ng or exc
excess
essive
ive die
dietin
ting
g cou
could
ld be unh
unheal
ealthy
thy and the
there
refor
fore,
e, mo
moral
rally
ly
objectionable.
o
Actions which are intrinsically evil are prohibited at all
times
es.. Actwhen
ions the
whicfactors
h are which
extrin
ins
srender
ical
allly e
vil mevil
ay are
be
permitted
them
removed or corrected.
o
It is a fact that some actions entail pain and suffering,
whilile
wh
e some do bring
bring pleas
pleasur
ures
es to their
their doers
doers.. Pain or
pleasure do not define whether an act moral or immoral.
The sexual act, for example, could either be moral or
immoral regardless whether it is painful or pleasurable
experience.
Th
The
e end of the doer
o
It is the purpose or motive which the doer wishes to accomplish by his action.
Without a motive, an act is accidental and involuntary. A good motive is truthful,
prudent, temperate and just. It is the most equitable for the most number of
people or in the words of the existentialist the most loving of all in a given
situation.
o
T H E E ND
N D D O E S N O T J US
U S TI
T I F Y T H E ME A NS
N S is a fundamental moral principle.
o
It affirms that one should not do wrong (means) in order to attain a good purpose
(end). The motive of a person, no matter how noble does not excuse an act
which is intrinsically evil. The desire to pass a subject does not justify a student
who for cheats in the examination. Likewise, the need to feed a family does not
justify stealing. The desire to know the truth does not justify torture of a suspect
by the police. The rule is– don’t do wrong even if this will result in something
good.
Moti
Motivv e and A c ti
tion
on
o
A n evi
evill act whi
whicc h i s done on acc
accoun
ountt of an evi
evill motiv
motive
e is
other words,
words, a bad action
action and a wrong
wrong motive
motive make
g r i evo
evous
us ly wr
wrong
ong . In other
for a dangerous combination. Stealing in order to buy shabu means double trouble.
o
o
o
A good action done on account of an evil motive
. THIS MEANS that something nice and sweet may turn
b
ecand
omsour
es because
evil itsofealfbad
ugly
motive.
A g ood ac tio
tion
n done on acc
accoun
ountt of a g ood pur
purpos
pos e ac qui
quirr es
an addit
itio
ion
nal meri
ritt. Th
This
is means yo
you
u g o ahead and do the ri
right
ght
thing . You
You can never go wrong on this one.
A n i ndi
ndiffer
fferent
ent ac t ma
mayy ei
either
ther bec
become
ome g ood or bad
dependin
ingg on the motiv
ive
e. This means you be CAREFUL of what you
act or what to say.
C ir
ircum
cumss tance
ncess of the
the A ct
o
o
Are
theofhistorical
surrou
surrounding
nding
of an
such as the
status
the doer,elements
the place,
the time,
orthe
thecommission
intensity of an
act.act,
The
circumstances are hinted by the interrogative pronounspronouns- who, what, where, with
whom, why , how and where.
WHO- refers either to the doer of the act or the recipient of the act. It has to do
with the age, status, relation, schooling, social standing, an economic situation
of those involved in act. IN this regard we note the following.
A.
The moron,
moron, insane, senile and children below the age of reason are
are incapable
of voluntary acts and are not morally accountable.
B.
Educated persons
persons have greater
greater accountability
accountability than those with less or without
education.
C.
Persons constituted
constituted in authority
authority have accountability
accountability for the actions of those
comma
comm
and res
r espon
ponss ibi
ibillity ”.
under them.
them. This is the meaning of
of “
o
Thus par
Thus
paren
ents
ts ha
have
ve co
comm
mmand
and re
resp
spon
onsib
sibililit
ity
y ov
over
er th
thei
eirr
children who are minors; employers over the actuations
of their employees and superiors over the acts of their
subordinates. The law on sexual harassment is based on
the
th
e do
doct
ctri
rine
ne of co
comm
mman
and
d re
resp
spon
onsi
sibi
bili
lity
ty.. Th
The
e le
lega
gall or
blood relation of people involved in act may modify the
na
natu
ture
re ofhomicide
such
su
ch ac
act.
For ins
nsttan
anc
ce, ki
kill
llin
ing
g of a pa
pare
rent
nt
changes
tot. parricide.
WHAT-
refers
refe
rs to th
the
e ac
actt it
itse
self
lf,, or to th
the
e qu
qual
alit
ity
y an
and
d
quantity of the results of such act. IN robbery, what is
stolen
sto
len and how much
much is stolen
stolen are aggrava
aggravatin
ting
g factors
factors..
Likewise, the number of victims determines the
seriousness of the murder.
 WHERE-
refers to the place where the act is committed. A crime
insi
in
side
de a ch
chur
urch
ch is mo
more
re sc
scan
anda
dalo
lous
us th
than
an th
that
at co
comm
mmit
itte
ted
d in a
secluded place. Murder in a marketplace is more heinous than that
done in a mountain trail.
 WITH
WHOM refers to the companion or accomplices in an act.
The more people are involved in the commission of an act, the
more serious is the crime.
 WHY refers to the motive of the doer
 How
– re
refe
fers
rs to th
the
e ma
mann
nner
er th
the
e ac
actt is pe
perp
rpet
etra
rate
ted.
d. Ho
Homi
micid
cide
e
committed with much cruelty is a heinous crime
 When-
refers to the time of the act. A murder committed when the
victim is sleeping is more offensive than the one done when the
victim is wide awake
CUMS
S TI
TIA
A NT
NTIAL
IAL FA
FA CTO
CTOR
RS
CIR CUM
1.
Cir
Circu
sta
ancekilling
may of
eit
ith
her in
incr
cre
epeople
ase or indethe
cre
cr
ecase
ase thofe terrorists
wro
ron
ngfu
gfullexploding
ness of an
evi
vilcum
l am
ctst
. The
innocent
a
bomb in public places constitutes a serious crime against humanity. On the
other hand, killing a tyrant who has long oppressed the assailant accepts a
mitigating factor and therefore is less evil. Nonetheless, the act remains an
evil act.
2.
C ir
i r c ums ta
tanc es als o may ei ther i nc r eas e or dec r eas e the mer i ts of a
g ood act. Helping another at the risk of one’s life is an act of heroism. Helping
another in expectation of a reward or fee is business transaction.
3.
Circums tance
Circums
ncess may exe
xem
mpt tempor
ora
aril
rilyy s omeon
one
e fro
from
m doin
oingg a re
req
quire
uired
d
act. A debtor may not pay his debt when he does not the money or if paying
up would cause him great hardships.
4.
C ir
ir c ums ta
tanc es do not pr ov e the g ui
ui lt of a per s on. The presence of a
person when
when a crime is committed
committed does not
not prove he is
is the criminal.
Morallly G ood A ct
The Mora
o
A morally good act is that which sound in all aspects–
in its nature, motive and circumstance. In the
scriptures,
the morally
upright
a just
one who
weighs his actions
in relation
to is
what
theman,
law demands,
tow hat the circumstances would allow to what fits his
stature as a rational being. A morally good action, is a
o
just act– “MAKA
“MAKAT
TARUNGAN”
We also speak of it as “Makatao
Makatao”” or “maka-dyos
maka-dyos””
indicating that such action is fair to the other person
and in accordance with the will of God.
The R el
eleva
evanc
nce
e of La
L aws
o
o
Laws mandate
some actions
as prohibited
others
as
permitted
and required.
We may
therefore and
consider
laws
as determinants of human behavior. Some people do not
do what is good unless they are forced to. St. Thomas
points out that laws are made for those who are weak in
character.
Soci
So
ciet
ety
y ad
adop
opts
ts th
the
e la
laws
ws to pr
prot
otec
ectt it
its
s me
memb
mber
ers
s fr
from
om
themselves or from those who might want to hurt them.
By pr
pres
escr
crib
ibin
ing
g pu
puni
nish
shme
ment
nts
s fo
forr tr
tran
ansg
sgre
ress
ssio
ions
ns,, la
laws
ws
encourage and compel people to act for the good of all.
Everyone
Every
one should obey the law or risk being punished. As
authorities would put it– dura lex send lex”, the law is
harsh but it si the law– and everyone must obey
obey..
Defini ti on of Law
The Definit
Law
o
o
o
Law, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, is an ordinance of reason,
promulgated for the common good by one who has charge of
society.
Laws are “ordinance of reason” because they are results of serious
study,, deliberation or public debate.
study
They
Th
ey ar
are
e pr
prom
omul
ulga
gate
ted
d be
beca
caus
use
e th
they
ey ar
are
e ma
made
de kn
know
own
n to th
the
e
people who are bound to observe them. They are for the “common
good” because the purpose of the law is the general welfare of the
people. They are enacted “by who has charge of society” because
only those who have legitimate authority to govern may pass laws.
KINDS OF LAW
o
DIVINE
DIV
INE PO
POSITI
SITIVE
VE LAW
LAWS
S –
o
HUMAN
HUMA
N POSI
POSITIVE
TIVE LAWS
LAWS- are those made by legitimate human
are made known to men by God
like the 10 commandments
commandments given to Moses. We also call them moral laws
because they are concerned with moral acts,. Violation of these laws
constitutes a sin.
authority such as the laws enacted by the State or the Church. Human
positive laws are intended to preserve peace and order and to direct
members to work towards the common good. They may also have as
their object the moral acts. Violation of these laws constitutes an illegal
act.
ac
t. Th
The
e co
cons
nsti
titu
tuti
tion
on an
and
d th
the
e ci
civi
vill co
code
de emb
mbod
ody
y th
the
e la
laws
ws of th
the
e
Philippines. Canon Law embodies the laws of the
t he Catholic Church.
AoFthF IdRivMA
MAT
I Vd EhuAmNanD pNosEitG
VsE aLreA W
Se:r
B
ine T
an
iveA T
laIw
eith
affirmative or negative. Affirmative laws are those that
requ
re
quir
ire
e th
the
e pe
perf
rfor
orma
manc
nce
e of an ac
act,
t, li
like
ke th
that
at of gi
givi
ving
ng
o
respect to parents and that of paying taxes when due.
Negative laws are those that prohibit the performance of
an act, like the prohibition against smoking in designated
public places.
inding
ing in Cons
Cons cie
cience
nce
B ind
o
o
Morall la
Mora
laws
ws ar
are
e th
thos
ose
e de
deri
rive
ved
d fr
from
om na
natu
tura
rall la
law
w. Th
They
ey ar
are
e th
the
e
inherent and essential tendencies of human nature so that they are
thought as being “written’ iin
n th
the
e he
hear
arts
ts of me
men.
n. Th
They
ey re
regu
gula
late
te
thoughts and feelings.
Moral laws are enforced by personal commitment in the absence
of the threat of corporal punishments or sanctions. Moral laws are
said to bind in conscience, because they impose upon the person
a moral obligation to accept the law and comply with it. Moral laws
then are enforced by personal conviction rather than by the threat
of corporal punishment.
o
Human
laws
regulate
the
when
these
are
ar
e ma
mani
nife
fest
sted
ed
and
an
d only
obse
ob
serv
rved
ed.external
. Th
They
ey acts
do no
not
t re
regu
gula
late
te
thoughts and feelings so that for example a person may
not be arrested for wanting to commit murder until such
time when he actually attempts it. Human laws do not
bind in conscience and are purely penal, that is, they are
enforced by police powers and justice is served when the
culprit suffers the punishment.
rope
ert
rtie
iess of a J us t LA w
P rop
A human law in order to be accepted as just, must have the following properties:
properties:
1. A huma
hu man
n law
law mus
mus t c onfo
onform
rm with divi
div i ne laws
laws . This is because all legitimate
authority comes from God.
o
2.
A human law must promote the common good.
good. The common good is the
communal benefit, material and spiritual, necessary for the promotion of
human life. The common good consists in economic prosperity,
prosperity, peace and
order, health, education and moral instruction of the members of society.
3.
A huma
hu man
n law
law mus
mus t not dis cr i min
minat
ate
e ag
agains
ains t c ertain indi
i ndivi
vi duals or
g r oups . It must apply proportionately
proportionately to all members of society so that the
needs of each one are served.
4.
A huma
hu man
n law
law mus
mus t be practic abl
able.
e. A law which imposes undue hardships
and sacrifices in its compliance is not just.
huma
man
n la
law
w mus t be flex
flexii ble. It must provide limits
5. A hu
and define the basis for exemptions. Laws are for the
benefit of man, not for his destruction.
6. A la
law
w mus t be amenabl
menable
e. The conditions and reasons
for a law do change. Therefore, a law should be
amendable and changeable.
The real
vill
reali ty of E vi
o
o
o
o
There are good actions and there evil actions. Their realities do not come from
the mind in spite of some people saying “evil is all in the mind”
Some people do not see evil, accept it as something “normal” or identify it as
something else. Some would regard pornography as an art. Some think of
gambli
gam
bling
ng and pr
prost
ostitu
itutio
tion
n as me
mean
ans
s of liv
liveli
elihoo
hood.
d. A te
terro
rroris
ristt bel
believ
ieves
es tha
thatt
murderin
murd
ering
g unb
unbeliev
elievers
ers is fulfi
fulfilling
lling God’s Will
Will.. A gove
governme
rnment
nt offic
official
ial belie
believes
ves
accepting bribe is a privilege of his office.
A pile
pile of garba
garbage
ge is ga
garb
rbag
age
e ev
even
en if a sc
scav
aven
enge
gerr we
were
re to sa
say
y it is go
good
od..
Garbage represents
represents what is ugly
ugly,, dirty and bad in the surrounding. In contrast, a
rose garden stands for what is clean, beautiful and wholesome. Therefore, only
he who is intellectual dishonest would claim “evil is only in the mind: implying
that evil is something imaginary
imaginary an illusion.
The expression “ang masama ay nasa isip lang” should not mean that evil is a
fiction. It should mean rather that an evil act begins in the mind as an evil
thought and is translated into an immoral act. Indeed, the mind is “t
“the
he de
devi
vil’
l’s
s
workshop”
A ns wer B r i efly
1.
What factors determine the moral
moral quality
quality of an act?
2.
When is an action a “just act”?
3.
Explain “the end does not justify the means”?
4.
Why do we need laws?
E XP
XPLA
LA IN the fol
follo
lowing
wing term
ermss
1.
Moral law
2.
Common good
3.
Command responsibility
4.
Negative law
5.
Affirmative law