LEDESMA, SHAINE ISABEL

BEED 4-A

ASSIGNMENT #3

THE QUESTION ON THE NORM OF MORALITY

1. With reference to man’s nature, what means the term good in ethics?
In ethics, good is defined as an act that befit him as a man, as a human being, being
endowed with reason and will.
2. What means “agere sequitur esse?”
This means that a thing acts in accordance with its nature.
3. What is the proximate norm and what is the ultimate norm of morality in human acts?
The proximate norm of morality in man's act is human nature. The ultimate norm is
divine nature.
4. Why is it often said that human nature and human life is a many splendored thing?
Human nature and human life is a many splendored thing. It has many aspects or
phases and is related to the Creator.
5. When we say that human nature is the proximate norm of morality, how should we take
human nature? What aspects of the same must be considered?
Human nature, as the proximate norm of morality, means human nature adequately
taken, that is in all its essential aspects or relationships: the religious, political,
economic, physical, etc. All must be considered.

DEFECTIVE NORMS OF MORALITY

1. According to hedonism, what is a morally good action?

Hedonism is an ethical theory in which morality is grounded on the pleasure or
satisfaction that an act brings or entails. The good action is the pleasant action.
2. According to utilitarianism what is the norm of morality?
Utilitarianism is a theory which makes utility the norm of morality. It has two types:
individual utilitarianism with a norm of morality residing in the usefulness of an action
for the production of the temporal happiness of the individual; and the social
 utilitarianism which holds that an act is good when it is conducive to the social good or
well-being.
3. What is common to both hedonism and utilitarianism?
Both hedonism and utilitarianism include the satisfaction accompanying the doing of
every good act. Both propose an earthly goal for man—the temporal welfare here on
earth. Both make or tend to make morality relative, which leads to moral chaos and
destruction.
4. Explain one defect of utilitarianism as an ethical theory.
One defect of utilitarianism as an ethical theory is that it can justify morally questionable
actions if they lead to the greatest overall happiness. For instance, utilitarianism might
allow for harming or sacrificing the rights of an individual or a minority if it results in a
greater benefit for oneself.
5. According to Herbert Spencer, what is life?
He defines life as the continuous adjustment of internal to external relations, the
adjustment of self to other selves co-existing in society. Life is progressing towards
perfect adjustment in a perfect society where the claims of the individual will have soon
harmonized and identified with the claims of others.
6. What does Kant mean by the categorical imperative?
Reason commands and the commands of reason are absolute and unconditional,
absolutely binding on all men of all times. Reason commands and we must obey without
questioning. This is what Kant called the categorical imperative.
7. According to Kant, on what is morality grounded?
Morality, according to Kant, is grounded on duty or moral obligation. Duty is the every
root of morally good acts.
8. What did Kant mean by “universalization without contradiction” as a test for the morality
of an action? What example does he give to illustrate this test for the morality of an
action?
Universalization without contradiction means that an action is good if it can be
universalized or practiced by all men of all times without bringing about its own negation
or abolition. Breaking one’s promise is an example given by Kant to illustrate this test of
morality. This act is wrong because it cannot be made into universal law. If it is broken,
 no one will make promise which will result to making no promises and no promises
mean no more will be broken.
9. What is moral positivism?
It is a the theory that holds that the basis or source of all moral laws is the laws of the
state. Good is that in accordance with the laws of the State, bad is that forbidden by the
State.
10. Give the points of differences between Christian and communist ethics.
Communism is based on the primacy of matter while Christian ethics is on primacy of
spirit. Communism proposes an earthly goal for man while Christianity is primarily for
the other world. Christian ethics is based on 3 basic postulates: the existence of God,
freedom of the will, and immortality, which communism denies and substitutes matter
for God. In communism, end justifies the means while according to the Christian view, it
does not. Communism subscribes to the evolutionistic view of morality, Christianity
maintains that morality is absolute. Christianity teaches love, right living, and prayer as
the road to eternal happiness in heaven while communism uses force, conflict, and
revolution for the attainment of its goal.

SPECIFIC DETERMINANTS OF MORALITY

1. What three things must be considered to judge an act right or wrong?

2. The end of the act determines primarily the morality of an action because nature and
purpose are one. The end or intention of an agent must also be considered in judging
the morality of an act because this goes with knowledge and consent. The
circumstances under which the act has been committed must be known in order to
determine the morality of an action.
3. What means the ‘”end of an act?”
It is the natural purpose of an act or that which thenact in its very nature terminates or
results. It is the primary determinant of morality.
4. What means the ‘”end of an agent?”
This is the intention or aim of the doer of the action. It varies with different individuals.
5. Explain the difference between the end of an act and the end of the agent.
The end of an action is the natural purpose of an act. A thing is good if it acts in
accordance with its nature and/or purpose. The end of the agent, on the other hand, is
 the intention of the doer of the action. An act good in itself may be spoiled by bad
intentions.
6. Why is it necessary to consider the intention of the doer in order to morally evaluate an
act?
The intention of the doer affects the moral quality of an act. A act can be considered
morally bad even if it done with bad intentions.
7. Explain the moral principle that moral goodness demands or requires fullness of being.
It means that an act is morally good if it is good in all its aspects. An action is only
morally good if it fulfills all necessary moral criteria—intention, means, and end.
8. Give an example of an act that is good in itself but becomes bad because of the
malicious intent of the doer.
An example of this is helping someone in need, which is a good act in itself, but if
someone does it with the intention of using it for leverage later, expecting a favor in
return or using it to manipulate, for instance, turns the good act into something bad.
9. Give an example of an act that is morally good or indifferent in itself but which becomes
bad because of the circumstances under which it was done.
An example is helping someone financially, which is a good deed. However, if you give
money to someone who is struggling with addiction and they use it to buy harmful
substances, the act becomes morally questionable.
10. What is the difference between a mitigating and a justifying circumstance?
Mitigating only lessens but does not remove the crime, but justifying entirely removes
responsibility and punishment because the act done is right or justified.
11. Explain the difference between justifying and exempting circumstance. Give examples to
illustrate the difference.
The difference between justifying and exempting circumstance is that in the presence of
a justifying circumstance, there is no crime nor criminal. On the other hand, in the
presence of an exempting circumstance, there is still a crime materially, although there
is no criminal because the agent is exempted from responsibility and punishment.