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Understanding the Moral Act. Laying the Groundwork. Bioethics. – Bio : life (human life) . – Ethics : science which studies human acts to determine whether they will lead us to happiness. happiness. bad act. Happiness. good act. bad act. $1,000,000. X. X. X. X. X. X. X.
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Understanding the Moral Act Laying the Groundwork
Bioethics – Bio: life (human life) – Ethics: science which studies human acts to determine whether they will lead us to happiness. happiness.
bad act Happiness good act bad act
$1,000,000 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Sources of Morality: Why it is being done The End What is being done The Object Circumstances When, where, how, towhom it is being done
Circumstances END (Form) OBJECT OF THE ACT (Matter) In extreme pain TO EASE PAIN (Form) GIVING PAIN MEDICATION (Matter)
Circumstances END (Form) OBJECTOFTHEACT (Matter) Intrinsically Evil Act
In extreme pain TO END SUFFERING (Form) OVERDOSING ON MEDICATION (Matter) Intrinsically Evil Act
Circumstances The End All Three Must be Good! The Object The Moral Act
One Moral Whole InternalAct: the will’s consenting to an act with its object, end, and circumstances ExternalAct: the execution of the will’s decision primary seat of morality The external act becomes good or bad by sharing in the morality of the internal act.
? ULTIMATE END Internal act END Is the end my will seeks in its internal act in accord with my Ultimate End?
? Objective Moral Norms The Object External act Is the object of this external act good? Is what I am doing in accord with objective moral norms?
The two dimensions of the moral act unite as form and matter to give us the full ethical picture. ? Circumstances END (Form) OBJECT OF THE ACT (Matter) Is it in accord with the Ultimate End? Internal act Is it good? External act ? ?