The Curious Gadfly

In ethics, an act is perfectly voluntary when a person has full knowledge of what they are doing and gives full consent to it. If knowledge or consent is lacking, responsibility changes. These influences are called modifiers of responsibility . There are five main modifiers that can reduce how "human" or "voluntary" an act is: 1. Ignorance (Affecting Knowledge) Ignorance is the lack of knowledge in someone capable of having it. There are two main types: Invincible Ignorance: This is ignorance that cannot be overcome. The person either doesn't realize they are ignorant or cannot find the truth despite trying. Responsibility: It destroys responsibility. If you truly cannot know something, you cannot be blamed for it. Vincible Ignorance: This is ignorance that could be overcome with reasonable effort. A person might stay ignorant out of laziness or because they don't care. Responsibility: It does not destroy responsibility but lessens it. You are respo...

 Man's actions taken collectively are called behavior or conduct. Behaviour is more of a psychological word and is applied even to animals, whereas conduct has a strictly ethical meaning and is exclusively human. Conduct consists of acts, but not of all or any acts a man can perform' It is customary to all the kind of acts constituting conduct human acts, Making this expression a technical term with an exact and restricted meaning' St. Thomas puts it as follows: of actions done by man those alone are properly called human which are proper to man as man.  Now man differs from irrational animals in this that he is master of his actions. wherefore those actions alone are properly called human of which man is master. Now man is master of his actions through his reason and will, whence too the free will is defined as the faculty will and reason. Therefore those actions are properly called human which proceed from a deliberate will. And if any other actions are found in man, the...

Ethics isn't just a set of rules found in textbooks; it is about the  character  of a person. When we call someone "ethical," we usually mean they are honest, fair, or kind. These aren't just one-time actions; they are qualities that define who they are. 1. The Meaning of "Ethos" The word  Ethics  comes from the Greek word  ethos , meaning character, custom, or habit. It describes our "moral fiber." Ethics focuses on forming a steady disposition to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. 2. Character vs. Action Returning a lost wallet because of a rule is a  moral act . Returning it because you value honesty is  ethical character . Ethics is about consistency. It’s the difference between a doctor who saves lives for fame and one who does it out of genuine compassion. The outward act is the same, but the internal motive defines the ethical value. The Origins: Ethics and Morality While used interchangeably, these terms have diff...