Final Mt 501

Front 1

Distinguish between an actus humanus and an actus hominis. Give an example of each. Which is important for the study of moral theology?

Back 1

Actus humanus - human act; voluntary act of the human person. Implies knowledge, moral value, will, and intellect/reason. Example: giving food to a homeless person, or 1st degree murder.

Actus hominis - man’s act that does not involve intellect/reason, resembles more of a reflex. Carries no moral weight.

Actus humanus is important for mt in that is is a deliberate choice involving reason and the intellect and thus may be determined as morally good/evil act.

Front 2

Do all men have the same end? Use the corresponding question in the Summa Theologica I-II to answer, and present the most relevant objections

Back 2

Obj 1-Some men sin. Aquinas: Sin is not an end but a mistaken understanding of what the last end actually is (temporal vs. eternal goods)

Obj 2-Men have various pursuits. Aquinas: Various pursuits are mistaken last ends, example is power and pleasure, which are not ends in themselves.

Obj 3- Men and actions are individual. Aquinas: Actions are preceded by a nature that is already informed by an end.

Aquinas concludes that all men have a last end, which is happiness (beatitudo)

Front 3

Name the natural inclinations and indicate where they are found. Are they blind biological impulses? Why, or why not?

Back 3

The natural inclinations are

1: the natural inclination of preservation, nutrition, self-defense, found in the vegetative level of the soul

2: the natural inclination of procreation, and education of offspring, found in the sensitive level

3: the natural inclination to know the Truth about God and to live in society is found in the intellect and will of man, found in the rational level.

The natural inclinations are no blind biological impulses as in animals, in that they can all be ordered towards or against the glory of God by man's reason and will.

Front 4

In and of themselves, what moral value do the passions have? How does this change when the intellect and the will come into play?

Back 4

The passions by themselves are morally neutral. They are the material of human acts which help us discern and act for the good. It is in being ordered or left unchecked by the will and intellect of man that the passions become morally good or evil.

Front 5

What is the difference between the concupiscible and irascible passions? Which is the primary passion, and why?

Back 5

The concupiscible passions are the passions of the concupiscible appetite or “pleasure impulse,” that deal with good and evil simply. They are love and hatred , desire and aversion , and joy and sadness/sorrow.

The irascible passions are the passions of the irascible appetite or “aggressive impulse,” that deal with the arduous good, i.e. the good that is difficult to obtain or the evil that is difficult to avoid. They are hope and despair, audacity and fear, and anger.

The primary passion is love because it is the primary affection of the will. You do all things out of love for an actual or perceived good.

Front 6

Name and define the sources of morality. Where does one first look to evaluate the moral nature of an act?

Back 6

1. Moral Object (finis operis) - physical action itself deliberately chosen/willed on part of acting person so intentionality is intrinsically involved;

2. Intention (finis operantis) - end in view or good to be obtained. Further intentionality.

3. Circumstance personal/environmental/time/place conditions attached to intention of diverse secondary motives.

We look to the moral object to evaluate the moral nature of an act, and use the intent and circumstance to fully clarify the nature.

Front 7

What is intrinsece malum? Please provide 3 examples. In which ecclesial document, and in which paragraphs in that document, did we look at its treatment?

Back 7

They are intrinsically evil acts, concrete behaviors which are morally evil and are always and absolutely in opposition to charity.

Ex: Hostility against life (murder), offense to dignity (slavery), and violation of human integrity (mutilation)

All this can be seen and understood in Benedict XVI's Veritatis Splendor

Front 8

What is the principle of double effect?

Back 8

The principle that holds that one can still do a morally good action, even if doing the action has a unintended secondary evil effect. For it to be followed it must follow this criteria in order:

1. The act is good in itself or at least indifferent in itself

2. The good effect can not be accomplished through an evil effect.

3. The good effect, and not the evil, must be directly intended and the evil grudgingly tolerated.

4. There is a proportion between the good intended and the evil tolerated. The foreseen beneficial effects must be equal to or greater than the foreseen harmful effects

Front 9

What is a virtue? What is the difference between the procuring of the acquired and infused virtues?

Back 9

A virtue is a stable operative habit that perfects the faculties of the soul / a firm disposition to do the good.

The acquired or “natural” virtues are procured through human effort and choices to practice those virtues, as a muscle is strengthened through exercise. The infused or “supernatural” virtues are a gift of grace given to man at Baptism.

Front 10

What are the moral virtues? Name them, and explain the powers that they perfect.

Back 10

-good operative/”elective” (p. 248) habits that make man and his works good/render good his possessor and his work

makes doing the good for a person easy and enjoyable

-Temperance perfects the concupiscible appetite

-Fortitude perfects the irascible appetite

-Justice perfects the will

-Prudence perfects the practical intellect

Front 11

11) Where is the virtue to be found in regard to acting? What is the difference between justice and the other moral virtues in this regard?

Back 11

Virtues are found in the “mean of reason” in relation to the acting person, which is particular to each person.

Virtue will help man avoid a personal excess or deficiency. They order the character of the person's interior life.

In contrast, justice is found in the mean of reason in relation to the particular thing/person to whom justice is due. It orders the way we take the inner virtues and applies them to our relations and social/society interactions.

Front 12

What is the eternal law? What is the relationship between the eternal and the natural law?

Back 12

Eternal law is the cornerstone of a Christian understanding of law. It is the “manifold wisdom of God,” in which all law is completed, and what each man is inclined towards.

Natural law is a participation of the rational creature in the Divine providence/eternal law, or right reason in its search for the good. It is a person living out the eternal law by adhering to its inherent good.

The natural law is the first and fundamental participation in God's eternal law.

Front 13

Define the natural law. What is a common misunderstanding of the natural law?What are the precepts of the natural law (see ST I-II, q.94, a.2)?

Back 13

Natural law = a participation of the rational creature in the Divine providence/eternal law, or right reason in its search for the good, but a common misunderstanding is that it is merely a biological impulse/function.

precepts of the n.l. I-II.94.2:

1st precept corresponds to vegetative - to pursue good and avoid evil; includes self-preservation

2nd precept corresponds to sensitive - things which nature has taught to all animals such as sexual intercourse, education of offspring

3rd precept corresponds to rational - according to man’s nature to reason, he has natural inclinations to know truth about God and to live in society

Front 14

What is the relationship between the natural moral law and the civil law? Please provide examples.

Back 14

Natural law is what allows us to know the "manifold wisdom of God" and which in turn allows us to know God. Civil law orders our life in society so that we can be good, come to know the NL, then come to know the Eternal Law, and in turn come to know God.

Civil law is derived from natural law, but also includes aspects designed for functioning in society (i.e. speed limits, which side of the street to drive on).

Knowledge of natural law is not sufficient because it does not help us order our life in society, so civil law commands, makes explicit, and promulgates natural law inasmuch as it is necessary to living a common life in society.

Examples:

Not all that is commanded by the natural moral law can be commanded by the civil law (worship on the Sabbath)

Not all prohibited by natural moral law can be prohibited by civil law (i.e. cannot prohibit a 5 year old from lying)

Front 15

Define actual conscience. What understanding of conscience does Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger use to show that the Papacy and conscience are not at odds?

Back 15

Conscience = an act of practical reason, a judgement regarding goodness or evil guided by objective standards of moral conduct of a single act we are about to perform or have already performed. “memory of who we are in Christ”

In the same way the Pope is an advocate that reminds us of Christian memory by being a present and consistent imitation of Christ. Conscience applies memory to will in order to bring us toward greater fulfillment, and the pope in his servant-leadership reminds and guides us to live as Christians.

Front 16

What are the three conditions for mortal sin? Explain what elements should be used to determine whether or not the last two conditions are met

Back 16

1. Object is Grave Matter - It is an inherent evil. Think murder, adultery. All things that are grave trespasses against charity.

2. Committed with Full Knowledge - the acting person knows that what they are choosing to do is sinful and goes against God. To determine whether or not this is met one must discern whether the act was done in full knowledge or with vincible and invincible ignorance. Vincible ignorance still leaves the acting person guilty (when it comes to grave sins) of the sin, in that they can and ought to know that what they are doing is a mortal sin because they do not will to discover the truth. Invincible ignorance liberates the person from guilt of mortal sin because the person simply did not know that what they are doing is a grave sin.also despite genuine research towards a topic came to an erroneous conclusion.

3. Committed with Full Consent - The act is an intended/deliberate act of the will. To determine if this condition is met one must understand the passions. Antecedent passions arise before the act of the will it lessens a person’s freedom, and as such his or her moral responsibility. If someone fosters a passion, and then acts in accordance to it, it is a consequent passion and is morally culpable. (Also need to consider that sometimes fear and violence make a person less culpable/consenting)