Prof. Fernandino J. Pancho
Human Act (Actus Humani) are
actions that proceed from
insight into the nature and
purpose of one’s doing and
from consent of free will.
Human Act are acts which
proceed from insight and free
will.
Human Act can also rightly be called
personal act.
Distinguish from Acts of Man

Acts of Man (actus hominis) are actions
performed without intervention of intellect and
free will.

It comprises:
 All spontaneous biological and sensual processes,
like nutrition, breathing, sensual impressions.
 All acts performed by those who have not the use of
reason, like people asleep, lunatics, drunken people
 Actions which merely happen in the body or through
the body without the awareness of the mind or the
control of the will.
Elements Of Human Act
Any act, thought, or word
That is done with full knowledge &
deliberate –
ALAM NIYA
2. The person is free to do it –
HINDI SIYA PINWERSA.
3. The person does it intentionally or
voluntarily –
NAIS NIYA TALAGANG GAWIN.
1.
Knowing & Deliberate

It means deliberation
about the means to
perform an action and
about the end to be
achieved.
Awareness or
conciousness of the
conditions and
implications of one’s
action.
Free Acts

Freedom is the power to
choose between two or
more courses of action
without being forced to take
one or the other by anything
except our own will.


Every human act is a free act for
it is under the control of the will.
Authentic Freedom is not “the right to
say and do anything,” but to “do the
good and truth.”

The whole moral life revolves around the
use of freedom.

The good use of freedom guarantees man
the affirmation of his better self and the
achievement of the purpose of life.

The abuse of freedom is the origin of man’s
guilty conduct.

True liberty dignifies man; misuse of liberty
debases him.
Freedom in Scripture

Scriptures of the Old as well as of the New
Testament evidence the conviction that man
has the freedom to do what is good and to
avoid what is evil, and that therefore he is
responsible for his actions.
 Sirach 15:14 ff.
 Deuteronomy 30:15-20
 Isaiah 1:19 ff.
 Jeremiah 11:6-8
Matthew 16:27; 25:31-46
2 Corinthians 5:10
Ephesians 5:5
Galatians 6:7 ff.
Intentional/Voluntary Acts

A voluntary act is defined as the act which proceeds
from an intrinsic principle with knowledge of the end.

A voluntary act proceeds from the will and depends
upon the will.

A voluntary act is a will-act, not only a “willed act”

When man knows the end of his work to the greatest
degree and moves towards it, the voluntary character of
his actions is present to the greatest degree.
Illustration

A certain AUL student is aware of the
regulations concerning the wearing of ID
before entry & during inside the campus.
(Knowledge)

He/She is free to wear or not to wear the ID
before entry & during inside the campus.
(Freedom)

He/she did not wear the ID and
consequently disobeys the regulation of
AUL. (Voluntariness)

Human Actions are good (moral) when they have
the moral perfections and fullness required by
the object of the actions.
 i.e. When human acts agree with the standards or
norms of morality which are human reason, conscience
and natural law.

Human actions are evil (immoral) when they are
contrary to the moral perfections required by the
object of the action.

Human actions are non-moral or amoral when it
has no relation to morality.
 i.e. When human acts are perform by those who lack
the moral sense of responsibility, like infants and
insane people.
Principle
“The greater the
knowledge and freedom,
the greater the
voluntariness and moral
responsibility involved,
and conversely.”
What do you think?
Why only human acts
can be judged as
moral or immoral?
References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
 Catechism for Filipino Catholics
 Ethics or Moral Philosophy, Alfredo
Panizo, O.P.
 Christian Ethics, Karl H. Peschke
 Encarta Dictionaries

THANK YOU!