Ethics Lesson 2-3

Question 1

What are the degrees of voluntariness?

Answer 1

Perfect and Imperfect

Question 2

This is an act where the agent fully knows and fully intends the act

Answer 2

Perfect Act

Question 3

This is an act when there is some defect in the agent’s knowledge,
intention, or both.

Answer 3

Imperfect Act

Question 4

This is present in a human act done, whether the
agent likes or dislikes doing it.

Answer 4

Simple voluntariness
( washing the dishes after the family meal )

Question 5

This is is present in the agent’s wish to do
something other than that which he is actually doing, but doing
with dislike

Answer 5

Conditional voluntariness

(washing the dishes with a wish of just watching TV)

Question 6

This is present in a human act willed in itself

Answer 6

Direct voluntariness

Question 7

A human act that is directly willed is called?

Answer 7

Voluntary in se (in itself)

Question 7

This is present in that human act which is the
foreseen result of another act directly willed.

Answer 7

Indirect voluntariness

Question 8

This is present in a human act of omitting,
refraining from doing. It is present in an act that the agent is not
ought to do but is doing it.

Answer 8

Negative voluntariness

( Example: A student deliberately misses class. )

Question 9

This is present in a human act willed here and now.

Answer 9

Actual voluntariness (intention)
( Example: The “I do” vows of a man and a woman during the
marriage rites.)

Question 9

A human act that is indirectly willed is called? .

Answer 9

Voluntary in causa (in its cause)

Question 10

This voluntariness is present in a human act of doing,
performing. It is present in an act that the agent is ought to do
and is doing it.

Answer 10

Positive voluntariness

( Example: A student attends class on his scheduled time. )

Question 10

This is present in a human act done as a result of (or in virtue of) a formerly elicited actual intention even if that intention be here and now forgotten.

Answer 10

Virtual voluntariness (intention)

( Example: The faithfulness of the husband/wife with his/her
spouse throughout their married life. )

Question 11

This is present in a human act done in agreement with, but not as a result of, a formerly elicited and unrevoked actual intention.

Answer 11

Habitual voluntariness (intention)
Its a bit tricky but basically as long as you agreed to it and never revoked it, it becomes habitual

Question 11

This is the voluntariness which, in the judgment of prudence and common sense, would be actually present if opportunity or ability for it were given.

Answer 11

Interpretative voluntariness (intention)
Basically, this a voluntariness that would be willed once someone realizes its value. Like a boy dragged against his will to school. He doesn’t know school’s value, but everyone else does.

Question 12

What are the principles of Indirect Voluntariness when is the agent responsible for the evil effect of a cause directly willed

Answer 12

a. when he can readily foresee the evil effect, at least in a
general way
b. when he is free to refrain from doing what causes the evil
effect
c. when he is bound to refrain from doing what causes the evil
effect

Question 13

What are the Principles of Double Effect

Answer 13

The agent may lawfully perform an act which has two effects, one
good and one evil, when the following conditions are met:

a. when the evil effect does not come before the good effect so
as to be a means to it

b. when there exists a reason, proportionately grave or weighty,
which calls for the good effect

c. when the agent intends the good effect exclusively, and
merely permits the evil effect as a regrettable side-issue

Question 14

These refer to the things that may affect the human act’s essential qualities and thus lessen the moral character
of the act, and consequently diminish the responsibility of the agent.

Answer 14

Modifiers of human act

Question 15

What are the 5 modifiers of human acts?

Answer 15

1. Ignorance
2. Concupiscence (Passion)
3. Fear
4. Violence
5. Habit

Question 15

Generally, it means the lack or absence of knowledge.

Answer 15

Ignorance

Question 16

This classification of Ignorance is the absence of intellectual knowledge in man.

Answer 16

Negative ignorance

Question 17

This classification of Ignorance is the absence of knowledge that ought to be present.

Answer 17

Privative ignorance

Question 18

This classification of Ignorance is the presence of a false knowledge.

Answer 18

Positive ignorance
This is also called mistake or error

Question 19

This talks about the thing of which the agent may be ignorant about.

Answer 19

Ignorance in its Object

(Law, Fact, Penalty)

Question 19

What are the 3 types of Vincible Ignorance?

Answer 19

Crass (stupid/gross) ignorance –result of total or nearly total, lack of effort to dispel it

Simply vincible –some efforts were done but not persevering and whole-hearted effort, be unsuccessfully used to dispel it

Affected ignorance – if positive effort is made to retain it

Question 19

This is ignorance that can be dismissed by the use of ordinary diligence. This results due to lack of proper diligence on the agent, and is his fault

Answer 19

Vincible Ignorance
This is also called culpable ignorance.

Question 20

This refers to the agent in whom ignorance exists

Answer 20

Ignorance in its Subject

Question 21

This is ignorance that ordinary and proper diligence cannot dispel

Answer 21

Invincible Ignorance
This is also called inculpable ignorance.

Question 22

What does the modifier of habit refer to?

Answer 22

This refers to operative habit, which is a lasting readiness and facility, born of frequently repeated acts, for acting in a certain manner

(Ethical Principle Habit does not destroy voluntariness; acts from habit are always voluntary, at least in cause, as long as the habit is allowed to endure)

Question 23

This modifier is the external force applied by a free cause (that is, by human beings) for the purpose of compelling a person to perform an act which is against his will.

Answer 23

Violence

(Ethical Principle is external acts caused by violence, to which due resistance is offered, are in no wise imputable to the agent)

Question 24

This modifier is the shrinking back of the mind from danger. It is also the anxiety or worry of mind (from slight disturbance to actual panic) brought about by the apprehension of imminent or coming evil.

Answer 24

Fear

(Ethical principle is an act done from fear, however great, is simply voluntary, although it is regularly also conditionally involuntary.
If grave fear is present tho, the church says the act can be invalid)

Question 25

This classification of fear is when fear is the accompanying circumstance in doing an act

Answer 25

With Fear
(Example: A student cheating is afraid of being caught.

Question 26

This classification of fear is when actions are done caused by fear

Answer 26

From Fear
( Example: A student cheats because he is afraid of failing. )

Question 27

What are the 2 degrees of Invincible Ignorance?

Answer 27

1. Physically invincible – if no human effort can dismiss it
2. Morally invincible – if it would be extremely difficult to dismiss it even with the aid of some good and prudent men

Question 28

This modifier refers to those bodily appetites or tendencies which are called the passions, viz., love, hatred, joy, grief, desire, horror, hope, despair, courage or daring, fear, and anger

Answer 28

Concupiscence (Passion)

Question 29

This classification of Concupiscence is when these passions spring into action unstimulated by the will-act

Answer 29

Antecedent
( Example: the automatic feeling of awe over a wonderful scenery )

Question 30

This classification of Concupiscence is when these passions are directly or indirectly stirred up or fostered by the will
(basically there was time to think about your actions but you still did it)

Answer 30

Consequent
( Example: getting angry on the teacher retained for a long time )

Question 30

Antecedent concupiscence is?

Answer 30

An act of man

Question 31

What are the ethical principles on concupiscence

Answer 31

1. Antecedent concupiscence lessens the voluntariness of an act.
2. Antecedent concupiscence does not destroy the voluntariness of an act. (if passion is too great then he is temporarily insane, and his acts are not human acts but acts of man.
3. Consequent concupiscence, however great, does not lessen the
   voluntariness of an act.

Question 32

What are the ethical principles on Ignorance?

Answer 32

1. Invincible ignorance destroys the voluntariness of an act.
2. Vincible ignorance does not destroy the voluntariness of an act.
3. Vincible ignorance lessens the voluntariness of an act.
4. Affected ignorance in one way lessens and in another way increases voluntariness. (Usually increases)

Question 33

This refers to acts performed while ignorance exists

Answer 33

Ignorance in its Result

Question 34

It is that which follows upon an act of the will.
The will may directly affect it or crassly neglect to dispel it.

Answer 34

Consequent Ignorance

Question 35

It is that which precedes all consent of the will.

Answer 35

Antecedent Ignorance

Question 36

It is that which accompanies an act that would have been performed even if the ignorance did not exist.
An act done in concomitant ignorance is non-voluntary.

Answer 36

Concomitant Ignorance