Ethics

• End


  The purpose or goal of an act. It is either the end of the act itself or the end of the doer
• End of the act

  The natural termination or completion of an activity
• End of the doer


  The motive or reason why the person performs an act
• Kinds of End


  • Proximate
  • Remote
  • Intermediate
  • Ultimate
• Proximate End


  The purpose which the doer wishes to accomplish immediately
• Remote End


  The purpose which the doer wishes to accomplish sometime later
• Intermediate End


  Sought as a means for obtaining another thing and leads to the completion of the ultimate end
• Ultimate End


  An end that is desired for its sake, and it completes the act and stops the further activity
• Intrinsic good act


  An act that is consistent with the natural tendency of human nature
• Intrinsic evil act


  An act which is contrary to reason. These are human actions as being contrary to the natural law
• Extrinsic evil acts


  Actions that are neutral to the norm of morality. These actions are either good nor bad, on the account of their nature, but becomes evil because of the factors or circumstances in concomitant to them
• End of the doer


  The purpose or motive which the doer wishes to accomplish by his action
• If the doer acts without a motive, an act is accidental or involuntary
• The end does not justify the means
• Correlation between motive and action

  • An evil act that is done on account of an evil motive is grievously wrong
  • A good action done on account of an evil motive becomes evil itself
  • A good action done on account of a good purpose acquires additional merit
  • The indifferent acts may either become good or bad depending on the motive of the doer
• Circumstance of the act

  The historical elements surrounding the commission of an act, such as the status of the doer, the place, the time, and the intensity of an act
• Laws mandate some actions as prohibited and others as permitted and required
• Laws are considered as determinants of human behavior
• Some people do not do what is good unless they are forced to
• Laws are made for those who are weak in character - St. Thomas Aquinas
• Society adopts laws to protect its members from themselves or from those who might want to harm/hurt them
• Laws are prescribing punishment for transgressions and it encourages and compel people to act for the good of all
• Everyone should obey the law or risk of being punished
• Law


  An ordinance of reason, promulgated for the common good by one who has charge of society (S.t Thomas Aquinas)
• Kinds of Law


  • Divine Positive Law
  • Human positive law
• Divine Positive Law


  Those made known to men by God, such as the Decalogue (ten commandments), also called moral laws because they are concerned with moral acts. Violation of these laws constitutes a sin
• Human positive law


  Laws made by legitimate human authority, such as the laws enacted by the State or the Church. Intended to preserve peace and order and to direct members to work towards the common good. May also have as their direct object - the moral acts. Violation of these laws constitutes an illegal act
• Types of laws


  • Affirmative
  • Negative
• Affirmative laws


  Those that requires the performance of an act
• Negative laws


  Those that prohibits the performance of an act
• Properties of a Just Law

  • Must conform to divine laws
  • Must promote the common good
  • Must not discriminate against certain individuals or groups
  • Must be practicable
  • Must be flexible
  • Must be amendable
• Moral laws


  Those derived from natural law. They are the inherent and essential tendencies of human nature so that they are thought of as being written in the hearts of men. They regulate thoughts and feelings
• Human laws


  Regulate only external acts when these are manifested and observed. They do not regulates thoughts and feelings. They are enforced by police powers and justice is served when the culprit suffers the punishment