Overview
This lecture explores the distinction between moral (human) actions and non-moral (acts of man), the criteria for voluntary and deliberate action, and various impediments that affect moral responsibility.
Human Acts vs. Acts of Man
- St. Thomas Aquinas states all human acts are moral acts.
- Human acts are voluntary and deliberate, involving moral evaluation.
- Acts of man are involuntary and not subject to moral judgment.
Voluntary and Involuntary Actions
- Aristotle distinguishes involuntary (outside our control, natural/innate) and voluntary actions (done with awareness and control).
- Involuntary actions are often shared with animals and are not morally evaluated.
- Voluntary actions require knowledge, voluntariness (willingness), and freedom (no external constraint).
Deliberate Action and Moral Evaluation
- Deliberate action is voluntary action done with intent.
- All deliberate actions are voluntary, but not all voluntary actions are deliberate.
- Example: Accidentally stepping on someone is voluntary but not deliberate; intentionally doing so is deliberate.
Degrees of Moral Culpability
- Both voluntary and deliberate actions are subject to moral scrutiny.
- The gravity of moral responsibility increases with intent (e.g., murder vs. homicide).
- Two meanings of "moral": an action being voluntary/deliberate, and its rightness or wrongness.
Impediments to Moral Actions
- Impediments affect knowledge, voluntariness, or freedom in moral actions.
- Ignorance:
- Invincible: Unawareness one is ignorant, cannot be overcome.
- Vincible: Can be overcome by gaining information.
- Passion: Strong emotions may cloud judgment or force actions.
- Fear: Threats or danger can compromise voluntariness and freedom.
- Violence: External force compels actions, reducing responsibility.
- Habit: Automatic behaviors reduce conscious voluntariness and freedom.
- Mental Condition: Disorders may impair judgment or control.
- Socioeconomic Status: Poverty or lack of opportunity can limit options and affect moral responsibility.
Moral Evaluation and Impediments
- Presence of impediments doesn’t make a voluntary act involuntary but affects the assessment of moral accountability.
- All voluntary/deliberate actions remain subject to moral analysis, but impediments must be considered for fairness.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Human Act — A voluntary and deliberate act subject to moral judgment.
- Act of Man — An involuntary or non-deliberate act not subject to moral scrutiny.
- Voluntary Action — Action done with knowledge, voluntariness, and freedom.
- Deliberate Action — A voluntary action performed with intent.
- Involuntary Action — Action outside one’s control, often natural or innate.
- Invincible Ignorance — Ignorance that cannot be overcome by the individual.
- Vincible Ignorance — Ignorance that can be overcome with effort or information.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on how impediments affect moral responsibility in real-life scenarios.
- Prepare for next week’s topic: moral theories including absolutism, relativism, egoism, emotivism, and hedonism.