Sources of morality

1. Act in itself or OBJECT- external human act performed the deed done
*if the object is evil the act is evil, nothing can make it good
*if the act is good as an object it may still be changed by its circumstances particularly by the
intention of the agent
2. The end of the agent - the purpose or motive of the doer of the act
Good act + good motive = doubly good
Evil act + evil motive = doubly evil
Good act + evil motive = evil
Evil act + good motive = evil
It cannot be made good
Indifferent act + good motive = evil
Indifferent act + good motive = good
3. Circumstances - particular conditions surrounding the objects
-particulars of the concrete human act
-conditions that affect an act
Circumstances of person
Circumstance of place
Circumstance of time
Circumstance of manner
Circumstance of condition of the agent
* a circumstance can make worse an act evil in itself
* a circumstance can make better an act good itself
* a circumstance can make evil an indifferent act
* a circumstance can make less evil an act evil in itself
* a circumstance can make evil an act good in itself
*Circumstances can increase or diminish the moral goodness or evil of human acts
* they can also diminish or increase the agents responsibility
*BUT they cannot change the moral quality of acts. They cannot make neither food nor right an
action that is evil in itself
FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR JUDGING THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS
1. An act is morally good if the act itself the purpose and the circumstances are substantially good
2. Is an act is intrinsically evil the act is not morally allowable regardless of the intention or the
circumstances
3. If an act itself is morally good or at least indifferent its morality will be judged by the purpose or
circumstances
4. Circumstances may create mitigate or aggravate sin
5. If all determinants sources of the morality if the human acts are good the evil is good. If one
element is evil the act is evil

Norms of morality
St thomas aquinas: law is
A. A decree or ordinance of reason
B. Directed towards the common good
C. Promulgated by competent authority i.e one who has the care of the community
Ordinance or decree
*Obligatory force and not merely as recommendation or suggestion
*It is a decisive command to be performed or to avoid h performance of something
Ordinance of reason
It must be based on the insights of reason into what is truly good
It is the basis of any law. Any law hot dictates by reason cannot be a true law
Six qualities of a reasonable law
1. Just
2. Honest
3. Useful
4. Possible of fulfillment
5. Relatively permanent- law must be stable
6. Promulgated
Ordinance of reason
Laws Orders and directs human acts towards their ends
Law flows from reasonable will: from the illumined understanding of the will of end
Reason recognizes what is good
Good is what we ought to follow
Law makes us follow what is good
Common good
Laws can only be enacted for the common good and not for the private good of a few citizens
The aim for the development of all and nor for a chosen few. It should need to be concerned for the
attainment of universal happiness
Promulgated for the common good
Law is made know to those who are bound by it
Law is not meant to impose hardships or needless restrictions
True law tends to make men good, liberates men from perverse and mistaken judgements
Leads them to their ultimate end
Promulgated:
The official publication of a law so that it can come to knowledge of the subjects
Necessary in order that a law becomes obligatory
A law must be known to whom it binds
Knowable in manifestation
Enacted by a competent authority
Laws can only be enacted by those in charge of the community as a legitimate authority

Laws are enacted by a competent authority of legislative body and finally approved by anyone who
has the care of the community
Authority may be single individual or a body passing laws by joint actions
Relevance of moral norms cfc 849
1. Provide the objective criteria for our own conscience to judge what is morally good or evil
2. Help our moral development, especially in the formation of our conscience
3.Offer the needed moral stability in out oives
4.Challenges us to stretch for an ideal beyond our limited experience and correct our moral
misconceptions in the process
Classification of laws
A. According to immediate author
Divine laws
Human laws
B. According to duration
Temporal laws
Eternal laws
C. According to promulgation
Nature law
Positive law
D. According as they prescribe or forbid an act
Affirmative law
Negative law
E. According to effect of violation
Moral
Penal
Mixed