TRIPLE FONT THEORY

Based on Aristotelian theory. It recognizes 3 sources in the

determination of the constituents of the morality of an act:
Moral object
Subjective or personal intention of the agent
Circumstances including consequences
MATERIAL OBJECT:
One needs to define the end of the action and ones right to
take the action
Check your duty but ensure that it doesnt violate anothers
rights
SUBJECTIVE OR PERSONAL INTENTION
Intention speaks to the motive for which a person commits a
good or evil act
Intention is an act of the will, which is internal
External manifestations of the will add some gravity to the
internal act but its absence does not invalidate the internal act
Intention can also be expressed by cooperation which could
be:
o Immediate participation
o Collaboration
o Omission
Cooperation can also take two forms:
o Formal: Participation
o Material: Facilitation
A morally upright intention cannot make a bad action good
(the end does not justify the means)
CIRCUMSTANCES:
The context has a lot to do with its evaluation
Things to consider in evaluating circumstances:
o How
o Who
o When
o By what aid
o Why
Types of circumstances:
o Aggravating
o Specifying
ANALYSIS OF CONSEQUENCES: PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECT
You might do something good and it will have a negative
effect
You are still held responsible but it will be mitigated provided
that:

o The bad effect must not be intentional

o There must sufficient, serious reason to justify allowing
the bad effect
Types of consequences:
o Positive vs negative
o Long-term vs short-term
Limitations:
o Responsibility is different from culpability

INTEGRATING VIRTUE ETHICS

The foundation for morality lies in the development of good
character. Its self-developed.
Virtues are good human qualities
o Moral virtue:
Courage
Fortitude
o Intellectual virtue:
Virtuous acts arent enough. We need to do it for the right
reasons. Its not enough meeting moral standards. We also
need to have the right motives.
Human virtues:
o Practical judgment
o Justice
o Courage
o Discipline
I need to make a habit to always make the right decisions
PRACTICAL JUDGMENT
ABP
It is the capacity to make a wise decision regarding which
virtues are core for particular circumstances and the best way
to enact these virtues
Three components of practical judgment
o Moral perception of what is relevant
o Deliberation
o Choice of the most appropriate response
This is the old way of doing things
PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECT
Four rules of PDE:
o It must be a moral act
o While performing the act, theres a possibility of
negative effects but the negative effects should not be
intended
o The reason for the act should not be the negative effect
o The effect should not be part of the action