The Human Act

Exercise 4
1. What are the attributes of a human act?
An act is considered a human act when an act is done knowingly (the doer is
conscious and aware of the reason and consequences of his actions), freely (the doer acts on
his own initiative and choice without being forced to do so by another person or situation) and
willfully (the doer consents to the act, accepting it as his own and assumes accountability for
his actions’ consequences).
2. What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic evil?
The act is intrinsically evil is when the action itself is wrong (like punching another
person because you hate him) while an extrinsically evil act is when the act itself is not evil but
is made evil by the outside factors (like a politician donating to charities but only to have him
more votes for the next election).
3. Give an example of conditionally voluntary act.
An example of a conditionally voluntary act is when a person admits to a crime that he

didn’t commit because of the threat of a powerful man that gave him.
4. Give an example of perfectly voluntary act.
A perfectly voluntary act is when a child goes to play with his friends which implies that
he is not forced and is happy with his actions.
5. Give an example of an imperfectly voluntary act.
Peter was told by his mother to buy some things at the grocery store. Peter is not fond
of being ordered to do chores but because he knows that his mother will be angry at him and
he loves his mother, he chooses to go anyway.
Exercise 5
1. Should a drunken man be made accountable if he were to accidentally burn a
house? Elaborate on your answer.
Based on the situation, the man is accountable even though it is an indirectly willed act
that caused the house to burn. He drank too much alcohol even though he knows that being
drunk can cause many possible problems. Him drinking alcohol is a directly voluntary act and to
cause fire while being drunk is an involuntary act but knowing he can cause problems while
being drunk makes him accountable for the action.
2. What moral principle is involved when a car driver who is involved in an

accident is charged with reckless imprudence causing damage to property?
The moral principle involved in the situation is accountability and justice. Accountability
is involved in the part where the person is responsible for the actions that he made; and justice
is when he is punished fairly for his actions that caused harm to other people.
3. From the Reading, why is it important to cultivate moral sensibility?
It is important to cultivate moral sensibility because it helps us be a disciplined person.

Moral sensibility allows us to decide whether to do or not do things based on them being evil or
not. It also helps the law makers in maintaining peace and order in our surroundings.
Exercise 6
1. Why are we accountable for our actions?
We humans are accountable for our actions because we are acting voluntarily. We act
intelligently and freely; and because we know what we are doing and whether we are guilty or
not of our actions.
2. What is the penalty for immoral acts?
Even though immoral acts are considered evil, there are no said punishment that is
given to the doer. Instead, if the doer is still sane, he/she will feel the guilt, remorse and
shame.
3. Who are accountable for their moral acts?
The persons accountable for their moral acts is called a moral agent. These people have
the ability to recognize right from wrong and to be held accountable for his/her actions. They
have the moral responsibility not to cause unjustified harm.
4. Explain “Ignorance of the law excuse no one”.
“Ignorance of the law excuse no one” means that anyone cannot escape the penalties
and the punishment for violating a law just because they are unaware of the law.
5.How should we manage our passions?
Passion in the very sense of the word is not evil. It is the tendencies that drives people
either toward or away from certain objects. It just needs to be controlled all the time because
passion becomes bad if it goes toward the limit. For example, if you have a passion for
becoming the number one student on your class then it is good but when you start neglecting
your morals, doing bad things to others just to make you rise to the top then your passion
becomes evil.
Exercise 7
1. Why is it not advisable for a person to act in the state of ignorance?
It is not advisable to act in the state of ignorance because allows you to lose your
credibility and you may become morally liable for the possible wrongdoings you might do in the
future. It is preferred to research and to be cautious when doing things that we do not
completely understand to avoid the morally wrong decisions and their consequences.
2. Is it morally permitted to tell a lie in order to avoid torture?
It is morally permitted to tell a lie when a person is subjected to violence and it is

considered an involuntary act. With regards to fear, actions done out of fear are also voidable
and invalid in the eyes of the Human Law. The person is not accountable because the action
was done in order to avoid further torture.
3. Is it alright to disobey traffic rules because there are no policemen around to

arrest us?
It is not okay to disobey traffic rules even though we know that there will be no direct
punishment because there are no policemen around. Laws are made for us to have peace and
order. Laws are either made for us to be safe from one another or to prevent terrible accidents.
When disobeying traffic rules, in the long run it becomes a habit and because it is a habit you
will be used in doing that in the future therefore opening for possibilities of getting caught or
causing an accident.
4. Is helping somebody morally wrong if we do not enjoy doing it?
It is not morally wrong to help others without enjoying the action. Enjoyment in doing
moral actions is irrelevant to the action’s moral worth. In fact, it does make it more respectable
and morally correct because it shows true selflessness. As long as you help somebody in doing
the good things it will not make you morally wrong.

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Exercise 4

1. What are the attributes of a human act?

2. What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic evil?

3. Give an example of conditionally voluntary act.

An example of a conditionally voluntary act is when a person admits to a crime that he

4. Give an example of perfectly voluntary act.

5. Give an example of an imperfectly voluntary act.

2. What moral principle is involved when a car driver who is involved in an

3. From the Reading, why is it important to cultivate moral sensibility?

It is important to cultivate moral sensibility because it helps us be a disciplined person.

1. Why are we accountable for our actions?

2. What is the penalty for immoral acts?

4. Explain “Ignorance of the law excuse no one”.

5.How should we manage our passions?

1. Why is it not advisable for a person to act in the state of ignorance?

2. Is it morally permitted to tell a lie in order to avoid torture?

It is morally permitted to tell a lie when a person is subjected to violence and it is

3. Is it alright to disobey traffic rules because there are no policemen around to

4. Is helping somebody morally wrong if we do not enjoy doing it?

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