Moral Theology L Ecture

8/8/2019 Moral Theology L Ecture

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MTheology- covers the study of mans way to God as indicated by conscience andtoral he law of Christ, made possible by Gods grace.

It covers the moral aspect of human acts, physical, psychological and moralfreedom.

Speculative and practical science which deals with mans journey to God guided byconscience and the law of Christ, with man as a pilgrim, created in the image andlikeness of God.

Science of what man ought to be by the reason of what he is

Part of theology that searches for the norms of free human conduct in the light of therevelation


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Definition- it is the speculative and practicalscience which deals with mans journey to Godguided by conscience and the law of Christ and

more specifically with man as a pilgrim and asan image of God. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

It is the science of what man ought to be byreason of what he is. (M. Oraison)

The part of theology that searches for the normsof free human conduct in the light of theRevelations. (Franc Bockle)


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That part of theology which studies mans actions in thelight of Christian faith and of reason the guidelines manmust follow to obtain his final goal. (Peshke)

Thus, an adequate definition will have the followingelements:

1. it is a SCIENCE concerned about what ought to be

2. NORMS- standard, guidelines

3. JUDGING RIGHT OR WRONG

4. dealing with HUMAN CONDUCT- human acts free anddeliverate

5. summed up by RESPONSIBILITY commitment6. responding to a personal invitation of Jesus


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Dogmatic theology- speculative in character, reflecting on the natureof God, and of his creatures.

ex Dogma ofDivine Revelation

Moral Theology- practical science drawing from the dogmatic truthsthe consequences for human actions and

guiding men toward the realization of his final goal.

Ethics or Moral philosophy excludes positive revelation of the Oldand New Testament as source of its moral knowledge and guidance

Divine Revelation these are supernatural truths revealed to us byGod which we have to believe


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2D

ivisions of Moral Theology1. General or Fundamental M.T.- deals with the generalconditions and qualities with which actions must bebased in order that it may contribute to final goal.

It deals with mans responsibility in the religious realm-faith, hope, charity and worship.

2. Special M.T.- deals with human behavior in thedifferent spheres and situations of life.

It deals with mans responsibility in the religious realm-faith, hope, charity and worship.

It deals with responsibility to the created world.


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Similarity between Ethics and Moral Theology

Both are concerned with human acts

Both are concerned with the morality of human conduct

Both are essential guiding principles and principles for mans moral

life Differences

Ethics is universal in its sphere concern with universal norm,conduct, custom common to all men

Moral Theology is specific

Medium of knowledge

Ethics = reason MT- Faith

End

Ethics- Natural end M. T- Supernatural

Sense of Perception M.T Intuition of the first Principle

Reason M.T Faith

Philosphy and Metaphysics should be studied in order to appreciatethe existence of God


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End

Ethics- Natural end M. T-Supernatural

Sense of Perception M.T Intuition

of the first Principle Reason M.T Faith

Philosphy and Metaphysics should bestudied in order to appreciate theexistence of God


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Purpose of Moral Theology1. to point out the purpose of Christianvocation

2. to bring faith, truth, and love as Christdid.

3. to develop Christian moral adulthood.

Ethics and Moral Theology are both

concerned with human activities andactions.


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Ethics or Moral Philosophy- deals with humanactivity in as much as the acts are in conformitywith the natural end. The medium of knowledgeis reason alone, setting out the data ofexperience and acquired knowledge.

Derived from Greek word ethos- conscience Ethics excludes positive revelation of the Old

and New Testaments as source of its moralknowledge and guidance.

Ethics is concerned with norms, mores ortraditions and principles of behavior insofar asthese principles are known by reason.


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Mans Natural EndOnce a person reaches maturity, he faces aquestion for himself: What should I do with mylife? What is my purpose in life?

Thus, his actions are all directed to his goal, hispurpose, his end.

Human actions are characteristically an actionfor an end.

The principle of human acts is the end, goal orpurpose.

If no good (real or apparent) is known by reason,no human act is performed


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The will is a blind faculty no desire unless thereason shows there is something desirable

Nothing enters the mind without passing firstthrough the senses. Aristotle

* mans action is good if it leads him to his endand bad if it drives him away from his ultimateend.

2 kinds of goodApparent Good

Real Good


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Attainment of the goal or end- the ultimate endnecessitates acts.

The ultimate end is a fixed principle but the

various means to attain it is not .

Freedom of Choice applies to these means.

Morally good acts are those which are suitable to

the attainment of the end.

Morally bad acts are those unsuitable to theattainment of ultimate end.


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Moral Theology presupposes Ethics andadds another dimension.

Revelation- the medium of knowledge is

reason enlightened by faith.Catholic moral teaching is based on

Revelation, Scriptures and traditions.

Revelation is left to the care of the Churchand not on ones private interpretation.


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- acts that are proper to man as man

- acts internal or external,bodily or spirituallyperformed by a human being

ACTS OF MAN

- ACTS THAT MAN PERFORM INDELIBERATELY ORWITHOUT ADVERTENCE

- mans animal act of sensation (use of senses) andappetition ( bodily tendencies)

_


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- acts done abstractedly or with complete

inadvertence

- acts performed in infancy, infirmity mind orthe weakness of senility- acts done in sleep, in delirium, in the state of

unconsciousness


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CONSTITUENTS OR ELEMENTS OF HUMAN ACTS

KNOWLEDGE

_ product of the mind after due intellection

_ proceeds from the deliberate will

Kinds of Knowledge

Abstract- purely speculative, knowledge that is not enough for morals

_ it will lead to split level christianity or to legalism

_ Oftentimes children and students are guilty of this

_ Religion and moral values are learned without appreciating it


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B. Evaluative knowledge

_ knowledge applied or knowledge of appreciation is

required

_ what is objectively true must be subjectively true andmeaningful for me

_ True education aims at the formation of the human

person with respect to his ultimate goal and

simultaneously with respect to the good of the society of

which he is a member and in whose responsibilities as

an adult he has to share

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MODIFIERS OF HUMAN ACTS

A. IGNORANCE

_ the absence of knowledge

_ is the absence of knowledge that ought tobe there ( privative)

_ the absence of intellectual knowledge inman ( negative)

_ negation of knowledge


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Kinds of Ignorance

A. Ignorance in its Object

- Ignorance of the Law is the ignorance in

the existence of a duty, rule or regulation

ex. A young freshman comes to class with

fever to take an exam in chem not knowing

that a memo has been passed prohibitinganyone to attend his class with symptoms

manifesting AH1N1


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Kinds of vincible ignorance

1.1 Simply vincible- some effort has been done but notenough to dispel the ignorance

1.2 Crass or Supine- result of total or nearly lack ofeffort to dispel it

1.3 Affected- if positive effort has been done to retain

the ignorance.

Past actions cannot be judged with present knowledge


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2. Invincible Ignorance- ignorance that

ordinary and proper diligence cannot

dispel.

this is attribitable to 2 causes;

(a) the person has no realization of his

lack of knowledge

(b) the person who realizes his

ignorance finds his effort ineffective


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C. IGNORANCE IN ITS Result

1. Antecedent Ignorance that whichprecedes all consent of the will

ex. The chef served a poisonous mushroomnot knowing that it can cause the death of itscustomers

2. concomitant- accompanies an act thatwould have been performed even if the

ignorance did not exist.ex.A nominal Catholic misses Sunday mass

but if even if he knows, he will still miss it.


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3. consequent- that which follows upon

the act of the will

ex. A Catholic suspects that it is aday of obligation but deliberately

refrain from making sure, and does

not attend the mass.


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PRINCIPLES

1. Invincible ignorance destroys the

voluntariness of the act

2. Vincible Ignorance does not destroy the

voluntariness of an act

3. Vincible Ignorance lessens the voluntariness

4. Affected ignorance is one way lessens and inanother way increase voluntariness


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ll. ERROR- state of beleiving what is not true

Like ignorance is a privation of right knowledge and trueinsight due to false opinions and convictions because ofdeficient education, influence of bad company, reading

of misleading books and papers, insidous influence ofmass Media.

Error is positive ignorance. We all need erasers to ourpencils.Principle of error follow Principle of Ignorance

lll. Inattention momentary deprivation of knowledge


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B. FREEDOM

Not the power to do what we like, but the the right of

being able to do what we know we ought to do in

relation to our ultimate end.Responsibility- the ability of an individual to givew a

fitting response to a human situation that involves

human needs. Both freedom and responsibility are

interlinked with each other and as such inseparable

There ar many things in man that he would like to do

but he cannot do.

ex. To stay young forever, to know everything


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Although his freedom is limited , he is free in hischoices

His freedom lies on the fact that once he made adecision no one can make him change his mind

When he chooses no power whatsoever canforce him to change his choice(dignity of man)

He can be enticed, induced, persuaded butnever forced.

His choice is not on his natural end but is freedetermine himself towards the end and meansto attain it


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Kinds of Freedom

1. Physical- freedom from any want of physical

bond. It is anything that exists physically that

control our actions.

ex. Freedom of speech- the ability to say

privately and publicly what one thinks and

believes. When somebody prevents as to say

what we think of them- that somebody becomes

the physical bond to our physical freedom.

2. Psychological- is the freedom from any

inner forces or inner bonds.


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Ex. Freedom to think what we really want and

not accepting decisions from others. Brain

washing is against this kind of freedom because

we are forced to do something which is againstour will and conscience.

3. Moral- the ability to choose between right and

wrong and tell the difference between good and

evil

C. Obstacles

1. Sociological- those that involve evolution and

phenomena of human society.


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Includes customs, human traits and social

ex. Superstition

2. Psychological- the tendency of being to act in

response to any given situation, whether

referred to the well-being of the organism or not.

It may rise the outside which is perceived by

the senses.ex. Habit like drinking, smoking and vices like

women

4.Pathological- the person possesses some kind of

a disease


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Ex. Disease: psychosis or psycopathy which is

the ailment due to the damage of the tissues of

the brain, mental and nervous disorder etc.

IMPAIRMENTS OR OBSTACLES TO FREEDOM

PASSION- it is a movement of the appetite which

is produced by good or evil as apprehended by

the imagination

2 classes of passion


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a. Concupiscible - instinctive passion or

developed passions- joy, sadness, desire,

aversion, love and hatred regulated by

Temperance

b. Irascible- aggressive or easily provoked

Ex. Hope, desire, courage, fear, anger-

regulated by Fortitude

-Movements of the passions are frequently

called feelings esp. if not vehement


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-Concupiscense has no connotation of evil. Man

has endowed man with these appetites, which

pervades his whole sensitive life. They are

instruments for the self-preservation of theindividual.

- A man without them would be in no capacity for

self-defense, growth and improvement

- Passions becomes destructive & evil if

their force is not controlled by reason.


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- The whole process of moral education,

both in the early & in the maturer years of

his life is a process of gaining command

over all the movements of the passions.

Eventually man becomes the passions of

himself.


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Divisions of Passions

1. Antecedent Or inculpable Passion- occurs when itsprings into action unstimulated by the will.

- always lessens the voluntariness of the act anddiminishes responsibility since it hinders reflection ofreason and weakens attention

- the stronger is the passion the weaker is the intellectand will

- does not destroys the responsibility of the agent sinceknowledge and freedom maybe lessened but he is stillthe master of his act

If passion is so great, as to make control impossiblethen the agent is temporarily insane and his act is not

human act but acts of man


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2. Consequent passion- follows the freedetermination of the act and is freely admittedand consented to and deliberately aroused.

- the will directly or indirectly stirs them up- however great does not lessen thevoluntariness since it is willed directly orindirectly.

ex. Planned revenge or assassination, readingpornography, singing hymns of praise


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Principles

1. Antecedent Passion lessens the voluntariness

of an act since it urges one to action. However

voluntariness depends upon knowledge andfreedom. It disturbs the mind and thwarts more

or less the calm judgment of the mind upon the

moral qualities of the mind. It lessens the full and

prompt control of the mind and thereforeimpairs freedom


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But it does not destroy the voluntariness of

the act since even if freedom is lessened it

is not destroyed; and the agents

responsibility while diminished is not

cancelled.


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2. Consequent passion, no matter great,

does not lessen the voluntariness. It is

willed directly or indirectly and the acts

that proceeds from it have their proper

voluntariness, direct or indirect.

ex. Revenge or planned assassination


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3. Fear- shrinking back of the mind because of animpending evil

Kinds:

a. Acts done with fear or inspite of fear as when a

person climbs a dangerous mountain at night . Fear inthis case accompanies an act whichin itself is voluntary

b. Acts done from fear and through fear or because offear as when a person threatened with a gun yields hiswealth to a thief.

c. fear maybe slight or grave according to the amount ofproximity of the impending evil. The danger of death orlosing a big amount of property are cases of grave fear.


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Principles

1. An act done from fear, however great, is simply

voluntary, although it is regularly also

conditionally involuntary.

- If fear is so great as to make the agent

momentarily insane, the act done from fear is

not voluntary at all, for it is not a human act but

acts of man.


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But as long as the agent has the use of

reason,the act is simply voluntary.

However the act is involuntary since the

agent would not do it under ordinary

circumstances were not for the presence

of evil.


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3. Violence- the application of an external force ina person by another free agent for the purpose

of compelling someone him to do something

against his will. Violence consists in the actualapplication of physical force to extort something

from a person.


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- No physical force or external agent can

destroy the freedom and the intrinsic

power of choice. No matter how violently a

person maybe treated his will always

remain free for physical force can never

reach the extrinsic act of the will.

Physically a person maybe compelled todo something but he cannot be compelled

to will something against his will.


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Principles

1. Physical actions resulting from violence are

involuntary by themselves. They are performed

by external faculties which suffer violence.

ex. The body of a woman can be violated, but

her will or internal consent may remain inviolate

or she may intentionally consent.


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2. Absolute violence if the will dissents

totally and resists as best as it can & ismeaningful & excludes any voluntariness

from the forced action.

- Active resistance should always be

offered to an unjust aggressor. However if

resistance is impossible, or if there is a

serious threat to ones life, a person

confronted by violence can always offerintrinsic resistance by withholding his

consent; that is enough to save his moral

integrity.


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4. Customs and Habits constant and easy way of

doing things acquired by the repetition of the

same act.

We are victims of our unconscious past.

Principles

1. A deliberately admitted habit does not lessenvoluntariness and actions resulting there from

are voluntary at least in their cause, as long as

the habit is allowed to endure.

2. An oppose habit lessens voluntariness, &sometimes prevents it completely

Pathologic conditions of psychiatric nature

or mental deficiencies are not human acts


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Education is so powerful in forming good or bad

attitudes & habits. It is therefore that a child must

be gently trained during their tender age tosubdue evil inclinations in order to acquire good

habits & to practice Christian virtues. A child

should never be left uninfluenced by religion

until he is able to make his own choice.


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A person may not be free by force of his

habit to act at the moment but he is still

responsible to his actions if he consentsby free decision to the habit as such.

Approval of the habit also includes

approval of its consequences.

When a tries very hard to overcome his

bad habit , he will be frequently be

excused from sin if nevertheless he yields

to temptation.


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When a person dislike his bad habit and

does not take serious effort to break it, the

voluntariness is lessened only slightly.


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5. Psychological, nervous & mental disorder,

neurotic, Psychotic, Schizoprenic, Manic

depressive, trauma, phobias (Trance,

Hypnotism)


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6. Social pressures and Manipulation

social pressure has increased in our

time; radio, television, computer,cell

phones, propaganda, technology affect

our freedom. We are becoming more

socially anonymous & depersonalized.

Many times we are immoral when thingsare loved and people are used. It is the

rule of life, to love people and use things

and not the other way around.


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OBJECT

- that effect which an action primarily or directly

causes.

- it is always & necessarily the result of the act,

independent of any circumstances or of an

intention of the human agent.

ex. The effect of the consumption of alcohol isdrunkenness, independent of the circumstances

whether it is taken at home or in public tavern,

whether the intention of the drinker


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Voluntariness

Etymology- Latin voluntas willAn act to be voluntary means that it is a will

act.

-formal essential quality of human act and tobe present there must be knowledge and

freedom

Kinds of voluntariness1. Perfect- present in an act when a person

fully knows and fully intends the act


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-imperfect- when there is some defect in the

agents knowledge, intention or both

Ex. A lie of exaggeration in a lively narrative

where the narrator adverts partly in order

to stretch the mattera little.

-Simple- present in a human act where the

agent may like or dislike what he is doing

Ex. Drinking medicine

2. Conditional present in an agents wish

to do something other than that which he

is actually doing.


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Ex. The commander of a distressed vessel

lightens cargo by throwing valuable

merchandise overboard.

3.Direct present in an act willed in itself.

ex a man kills a rabbit

- Indirect present in an act which is theforeseen result of another act directly

willed.

ex A man kills a rabbit for dinner. Hedirectly wills the act of killing as a means

to be achieved(dinner)

he directly wills the dinner. Now suppose


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The rabbit is a tamed pet of the kids and a

source of joy to the kids. Killing the rabbit

will be depriving them of pleasure and willbring them sorrow.

He does not directly will the effect of his act

but it is the foreseen effect of his dirctlywilled act, he wills it indirectly, or in its

cause.

4.Positive present in a human act of doing

or performing

- Negative- present in a human act of

omitting, refraining from doing


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ex.

A man goes to mass on Sunday (Positive)

A Catholic deliberately misses the Sunday

mass (Negative)

5. Actual- present in an act willed here and

now

Virtual- present in an act done as a result

of a formerly elicited actual intention, even

if the intention be here or now is forgotten- habitual- present in an act done in

harmony harmony with but not as a result

of a formerly elicited and unrevoked act.

Interpretative a voluntariness which in the


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- Interpretative- a voluntariness which in the

judgment of prudence and common sense

would actually be present if opportunity or

ability for it were given.

- Ex.

- A man makes the morning offering.here

and now he actually intends to live for God

and offer all his words, thoughts and

actions for him

- A man makes the morning offering but

during the day forgets about it but has not

done anything that will contradict his

intention.In all these acts he has not made

Any intention of doing it for God( but he has the


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Any intention of doing it for God( but he has the

virtual intention of doing them) so all acts he has

performed even those he has forgotten is for the

service of God because of his virtual intention.A. Indirect Voluntariness- present in human act

which is an effect, foreseen or unforeseen or

foreseeable, of another act directly willed.

1. when is an agent responsible for the evil effect of

a cause directly willed?

3 conditions to fulfill:1.a. The agent must be able to foresee the evil

effect, at least in a general way


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2. The agent must be free to refrain from doing

that which is the cause of the evil effect.

3. the agent must be morally bound not to do thatwhich is the cause of the evil effect

Ex.

Buchoy knows that if he drinks liquor, he will drinkin excess, and will use blasphemous language,

which will scandalize those that hear. He often

says that he detests intemperance and

blasphemy. Nevertheless he drinks liquor, andthe foreseen evil occur.


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The example showed that the agent is bound to avoid the

cause of the evil effect, and his obligation arises from the very

fact that the effect is evil.

B. Principle of Double Effect it states that from one single

effect there are two effects one good and one evil and they

happen simultaneously and if it one must be ahead of the

other it must be the good effect.

Conditions to fulfill:

b.1. the evil effect must not precede the good effect

b.2. there must be a reason sufficiently grave calling for the

act in its good effectb.3. the intention of the agent must be honest, that is, the

agent must directly intend the good effect and merely

merely permit the evil effect as a regrettable incident or

side issue.


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Can the ff: situations use the Principle of

Double Effect

a. The general of the army storms an enemycity. He foresees that many non-

combatants will be killed. Yet to take the

city will be a big leap towards winning ajust war.

b. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

have caused the surrender of Japan tothe Allied power. However, it caused the

death of so many civilians and the scars

of the war are still affecting the people


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through sickness.

c. A doctor can save a mothers life by destroying

the life of the mother. May he do so? Why not?

d. A person is dying in awful agony. Medical relief

there is none. Life cannot last beyond a few

hours at most. May a drug be administered tobring death quietly? Why not?


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OBJECT

The effect which an action primarily and directlycauses. It is always and necessarily the result ofthe act, independent of any circumstance or ofan intention of the human agent.

Ex: The effect of drinking a greater amount ofalcohol is drunkeness, independent of thecircumstance whether it is taken at home or in apublic place.

The effect of the human act is first of all thephysical, psychological, biological changeswhich an act brings about.


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Also, the effect includes the impact of the

act on right claims of persons whether of

other persons or of the agent himself. Andthe changes the act brings about on this

sphere e.g. the dissolution.appropriation ,

suspension, creation or transfer of claims

and rights.

Ex.

The object of an act of adultery is not only

the physiological happening of intercourse

but also the assumption of marriage rights


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by partners who are not married &

encroachment on the rights of a third

person

The object maybe morally good, evil or

indifferent. If the object is morally evil then

nothing can make it good.


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- A good end can make better an act good in

its object

- it can make good an act indifferent in itself- it can make less evil an act evil in itself

- A bad end can make worse an act evil in

object- it can make less good or evil an act good

in its

object.


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CIRCUMSTANCESParticulars of the concrete human act

which are not necessarily connected with

the object.who what where

why how when

with what means

Ci t diti th t ff t


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Circumstances are conditions that affect an

act and may affect it morally- although

they dont belong to the essence of the actas such.

- Conditions without which the act could

exixt, but which happen to affect or qualityit in its concrete performance.

a. Who Circumstance of person or agent

- Who is the agent?- To whom the action is done?

-


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Val shot a man.

It takes an added evil because the person he shot

was a Priest.2. What Circumstance of quantity or quality of

the object

What is the extent of the act?

Was the injury inflicted serious or slight?

Was the amount stolen large or small?

3. Circumstance of place

ex

The theft was committed in the presence of the

Blessed Sacrament


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6 Wh ? Ci t f ti


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6. When? Circumstance of time.

Did the agent miss mass on Sunday, or on a

day when he is not obliged to attend? How long did the agent retain an evil thought or

intention, for a long period or momentarily?

7. Why? Circumstance of end of the agent.

Some circumstances merely increase or

diminish the good or evil of the object.

Other circumstances add to the act a new goodor evil, differing in nature or species from that of

the act.

Ethi l P i i l i l d i th tt f


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Ethical Principles involved in the matter of

circumstances as determinants of morality

1. An indifferent act becomes good or evil byreason of the circumstances. Thus an act which

is indifferent in itself as object

ex

To eat meat is an indifferent act. But to eat meat

on a Good Friday is evil

2. A good act may become evil by reason of

circumstances.

ex


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ex

To pray to god is a good act. But to pray that

misfortune befall an enemy is an evilact by reason of the end of the act.

3. A good or evil act(objectively) may become

better or worse by reason of circumstances,

and may even take a new

goodness or malice from its circumstances.

4. A circumstance which is gravely evil (morally

sinful) destroys the entire goodness of anobjectively good act. Thus to do charity with

stolen money is evil by reason of circumstance

of means or instrument.

5 An evil act can never be made good by


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but not gravely sobut not gravely so5. An evil act can never be made good by

circumstances

6. A circumstance which is evil, but not gravely so,

does not entirely destroy the goodness of an

objectively good act.

ex

To pray carelessly and lazily does not entirely

destroy the goodness of the act of prayer,

although the full goodness of the act is injuredby the circumstance of manner.

The d f th t d t i t f lit


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The end of the agent as a determinant of morality

1. A good act done for a good end takes on an

added or new goodness from the end, and fromeach good end that influences the act.

2. A bad act done for an evil end takes on an

added or a new malice from the end, and from

each evil end that influences the act.3. A good act done for an evil end is wholly evil if

the end is the complete motive for the act or if

the end, while only a partial motive is gravely

evil. A good act done for an end slightly evil and

not the whole motive of the act, is only partially

vitiated.

4 An evil act can never become good by reason of


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4. An evil act can never become good by reason of

a good end.

5. An indifferent act is good if done for a good end,evil if for an evil end.

Principles on Circumstances

1. An indifferent act become good or evil by

reason of its circumstances

2. A good act may become evil by reason of

circumstances

3. An act may become better or worse, or maytake on a new goodness or evil by reason of

circumstances.


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4. A gravely evil circumstance entirely vitiates a

good act.

5. A slightly evil circumstance does not entirely

vitiate a good act.


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Sources defining morality of human actsThe norms which determine or measure the morality of ahuman act :

1. objectively- the moral law

2. subjectively- mans conscience

Human acts are morally good if in agreement with thesenorms and morally evil if in disagreement with them.

If the human act agrees or disagrees with the objectivenorm, it is objectively good or evil.


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If it agrees or disagrees with the subjectivenorm, it is subjectively good or evil.

A human act is good if all the 3 elements

(object, end, circumstance) are in harmonywith the moral norm.

A human act is morally evil if at least one

of the 3 elements is against the norm ofmorality.


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VALUES

Refers to the understanding of a certain good foran individual or society which is consideredworthy of realization.

Many problems in the area of morality involveconflict of values.

Ex: In making a moral decision, it is advisable toseparate the values involved in the issue and

secondly, it is important also to classify which ofthe values involved is most important to you.


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Properties of valuesBipolarity- 2-fold polarity

negative- the ugly, bad, the false

positive- the good, the beautiful, the true

Hierarchy- ranking- inferior or superior orequivocal to the other values

Ex: money is lower than wisdom, love is

higher than knowledge.

Moral value belongs to the practical life of man:

the value of self-realization, universal and obligatory forevery man.


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A human value can become a moral value if theperson becomes aware that he ought to realizea value in order to become what he ought to beand freely chooses to realize that value.

An authentic value is one that is:1. freely CHOSEN from among the alternatives

2. PRIZED- cherish your choice, be happy with it

3. ACTED upon- do something with it, do sorepeatedly so that a definite pattern results.


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In conclusion:

Identify the values which are in conflict.

Rank the values.If compromise is impossible, clarify what is

most important for you.


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3. Christian level- refers to a persons self-awareness as a child of God, how one ought tobe in the light of who he is.

Divisions of conscience

With regard to the act considered:

1. antecedent- if it precedes the act to be done;commands, forbids, counsels or permits theperformance of an act.

2. consequent- if it passes judgment on the act

already done; approves, excuses, reproves,accuses.


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With regard to its conformity with laws or objective normsof morality:

1. true- when it deduces correctly from the principles ofobjective norms

2. false/ erroneous- when it decides from false principles

Kinds of false/erroneous conscience:a. scrupulous- for little or no reason at all, judges an actas morally evil, when in fact it is not.

b. perplexed- judges wrongly that sin is committed bothin the performance or omission of an act.

c. lax- judges on insufficient ground that there is no sin inthe act or that the sin is not as grave as it is in fact.


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d. pharisaical- minimizes grave sin but

maximizes small ones.

With regard to the act of assent:

1.certain- when without any present fear of

error, considers the act lawful or unlawful.

2. doubtful- when it fails to pass a moral

judgment on the character of an act due to

fear of error.


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The 7 Capital Sins

Capital- they are always necessarily

they easily become vices and sources of sins.

1. Pride/vainglory- inordinate desire of honor by

destruction. Opposed to humility.2. Avarice- the inordinate pursuit of materialgoods, contrary to liberality.

3. Envy- discontent with the good of ones

neighbor, detriment to ones own person.Contrary to magnanimity.


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4. Lust- inordinate craving for sexualgratification, contrary to chastity.

5. Gluttony- excess in the enjoyment of food and

drink, opposed to temperance or obretty.

6. Anger- intemperate outburst of dislike with the

inordinate desire for anothers punishment.

Contrary to meekness and patience

7. Sloth- laziness, opposed to diligence.

Moral Theology L Ecture

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