Human Acts and Acts of Man Essay Example

not 2 successive acts but 2 elements of human acts - it is not that the intellect that knows and the will that decides but man who both know and decides through simultaneous use of the 2 faculties - will – directs the intellect to know - intellect – directs the will to want the object it proposes

WILL

the only object which necessarily attracts the will

ABSOLUTE GOOD

• perfectly known as such
• Partial goods or God imperfectly known
• will not necessarily attract the will

WILL

naturally inclined to the good – but man may sometimes deliberately choose something morally evil, how come?

In this case, the will chooses a partially good that the will itself has commanded the intellect to present as such = how did it happen?

= the will has a fixed inclination to the good – the will can only choose something bad when it is presented under its good aspects = it is due to the disordered disposition of the will with respect to its last end, and the means leading to it = there lies the culpability of the choice

ACTS OF MAN

those acts which man performs without being master of them through his intellect and will = therefore, they are not voluntary

EXAMPLES OF ACTS OF MAN ?

The natural acts of vegetative and sense faculties - digestion, beating of heart, growth, corporal reactions, visual or auditive perceptions. - but these acts may become human acts when they are performed with malice, or when we are directed by the will, when we look at something or arouse ourselves ?

Acts of persons without the proper use of reason – children or insane persons Acts of people asleep or under

the influence of hypnosis, alcohol or other drugs. - however, there may still be some degree of control by the will - but there is indirect responsibility if the cause of the loss of control is voluntary ?

Primo-primi acts – quick and nearly automatic reactions – reflex and nearly instantaneous reactions without time for the intellect or will to intervene ?

Acts performed under serious physical – or in some cases – moral violence