Unit 3: Psychological Basis of Morality

1. Voluntary vs. Non-Voluntary Actions

In Ethics, we only judge actions that are part of Human Conduct. To understand conduct, we must distinguish between different types of actions.

Voluntary Actions

These are actions performed by a conscious, rational agent with deliberate choice. They involve:

• Knowledge: Awareness of the circumstances and the end goal.
• Freedom: The ability to act or refrain from acting.
• Intention: A conscious aim toward a specific result.

Non-Voluntary Actions

These are actions for which an agent is not morally responsible. Examples include:

• Reflexes: Involuntary physical movements like sneezing or blinking.
• Instinctive Actions: Actions done by animals or infants who lack rational capacity.
• Compulsory Actions: Actions forced by external physical power (e.g., someone physically moving your hand).

2. Motive of Moral Judgment

A motive is the internal, subjective feeling or drive that prompts the agent to act. It is the "Why" behind the action.

• Nature: Motives can include desires, passions, feelings of duty, or self-interest.
• Moral Role: Some philosophers argue that we should judge a person based on their motive. For example, giving to charity to help others (altruism) is morally superior to giving to charity just for public praise (vanity).

3. Intention and Moral Value

While motive is the "feeling" that starts the act, Intention is the cognitive "plan" that guides it. Intention includes the end, the means chosen, and the foreseen consequences.

4. The Proper Object of Moral Judgment

Philosophers debate whether we judge the Motive, the Intention, or the Consequences of an act.

• The Intention as Object: Most ethicists conclude that Intention is the true object of moral judgment. Motive alone is too hidden, and consequences alone (utilitarianism) can be accidental. Intention represents the deliberate choice of the character.