Understanding Moral Acts: Definition, Structure, and Evaluation

The Moral Realm: Understanding Moral Acts

Characteristics and Structures of the Moral Act

Moral acts are acts of humans, but not all acts performed by humans are moral. Examples include sleeping, drinking, and running.

A human act is considered moral if it is performed freely and consciously (voluntarily), if it affects another person (socially), and if it is regulated by moral norms (normative).

If these requirements are not met, the act is considered amoral. For instance, animals and nature have no morality (e.g., earthquakes, dog bites).

Phases of a Moral Act

• Intention or motive that impels one to act
• End or goal to be achieved
• Means used to achieve the intended purpose, which must be appropriate to the nature of the act
• Results
• Implications of this act for others

Example of appropriate means to an end: "The end does not justify the means" (e.g., torture, terrorism).

Moral Responsibility

The subject is liable if they know the circumstances and consequences. Ignorance does not exempt one from responsibility unless one is not responsible for their ignorance.

For a moral act, the individual must act freely.

• If there is external coercion (e.g., someone prevents you from acting), one is absolved of responsibility.
• If there is internal coercion (e.g., paralyzed with fear), one is absolved of responsibility.

Example of due obedience: (army) "Does jealousy exempt one from a murder? Does it override the will?"

Moral Evaluation

Moral Values

Moral values are qualities we ascribe to human beings and the acts they perform. Examples include: a good architect, a good education. Good and evil are not always attached to something or someone in a moral sense. Examples include: good breathing, forgetfulness.

The value of things depends on their purpose (instrumental value). Objects are neither good nor bad in themselves. Examples include: a good knife, a bad watch. Besides humans' instrumental value (e.g., a good cyclist), there is human value (e.g., a good person).

Absolutism and Moral Relativism: The Nature of Moral Values

Moral Absolutism: Moral values are objective and valid for all human beings in all lands and cultures. What is good and valuable is always so for everyone. It requires a God (an absolute and ahistorical basis). It imposes a single moral tyranny.

Moral Relativism: Moral values are subjective and vary by time, culture, and individual. What is good and valuable is not always so for everyone. Everything is "allowed."

Democratic pluralism in societies involves a plurality of ideas and moral codes. Example: religious freedom. No group can be imposed on all others. This is not allowed. A minimal moral consensus through dialogue is necessary.