C14 Freedom and Morality Notes

Match the following

• consequences and surrounding factors

• circumstance

• action

• object

• goal or purpose

• intention

Good intentions/ends can justify an action that is usually evil.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The END (even a good intention/goal) does not justify the means (an action that is evil in itself)

The type of person we become is determined by:

• our circumstances

• our desires

• our willed choices

• our hopes

Answer explanation

Our thoughts have great power but our actions themselves determine what sort of person we become and what we accomplish or don't

We should strive to be a​ (a)   over our will not a ​ (b)   to our passions.

• master
• slave

List some specific circumstances listed in the CCC that diminish or potentially nullify responsibility for an act?

Which is NOT a way we become better masters over our will?

• ascesis (severe self-discipline)

• knowledge of the good

• progress in virtue

• building any sort of habit

Answer explanation

If you are building bad habits you are becoming enslaved to that negative action. That is not mastery over our will.

Circumstances can increase or diminish the moral goodness or evil of human acts.

• True

• False

A big part of the moral life is living a _ life.

Answer explanation

In order to accomplish our goals (hopefully heaven) we have to examine if we are doing what it takes to get there. Are my thoughts and actions leading me to my goal or away from my goal? We can do a daily examen to be aware of what needs to change.

One way of explaining self-discipline is the ability to say ​ (a)   to something you want ​ (b)   in order to say ​ (c)   to a greater good ​ (d)   .

• no
• now
• yes
• later

It is an ​ (a)   of the dignity of the human person that they have the right to ​ (b)   , especially in moral and religious matters (CCC 1738)

• inalienable requirement
• additional option
• exercise freedom
• judge others