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The Circular Relation of Acts and Character

The document discusses the circular relationship between acts and moral character in moral development. It states that not all acts help build moral character, but acts that stem from moral character matter in development. A person's actions shape their character, but character also generates acts that cultivate virtue or vice. It also discusses how moral development leads to human flourishing through habitual practice of virtues, and that virtuous traits require learning and constant practice rather than being innate. The Greek philosophers believed virtuous acts perfect life, and that determining moral acts requires good character.

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Elijah Rod Singueo Betita
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3K views1 page

The Circular Relation of Acts and Character

The document discusses the circular relationship between acts and moral character in moral development. It states that not all acts help build moral character, but acts that stem from moral character matter in development. A person's actions shape their character, but character also generates acts that cultivate virtue or vice. It also discusses how moral development leads to human flourishing through habitual practice of virtues, and that virtuous traits require learning and constant practice rather than being innate. The Greek philosophers believed virtuous acts perfect life, and that determining moral acts requires good character.

Uploaded by

Elijah Rod Singueo Betita
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Circular Relation of Acts and Character

(Excerpted from De Guzman, J.M., et.al. Ethics, 2018)


Used for class study and reflection purposes only-not for circulation

In the process of moral development, there is the circular relation between acts that build
character and moral character itself. Not all acts help to build moral character, but those acts
which emanate from mortal characters certainly matter in moral development. Hence, there
appears the apparent circular relationship between individual acts and moral character. A
person's actions determine his or her moral character, but moral character itself generates acts
that help in developing either virtue or vice.

This goes to show that moral development should also be understood in the sense of
human flourishing. This flourishing is attained by the habitual practice of moral and intellectual
excellences, or virtues. In the context of developing morality, which also brings about self-
realization and happiness, acting in line with virtues is acting in accordance with reason. Indeed,
philosophers like Aristotle hold that that the function of human being consists in activities which
manifests the best states of his rational aspect, that is, the virtues.

Virtuous traits of character ought to be stable and enduring and are not mere products of
fortune, but of learning, constant practice, and cultivation. But we have to add that virtuous traits
of character are called excellences of the human being because they are the best exercise of
reason, which is the activity characteristic of human beings. In this sense, the Greek moralists
believe, virtuous acts complete or perfect human life.

Nonetheless, The Greek philosophers think that it takes someone of good moral character
to determine with regularity and reliability what individual acts are appropriate and reasonable in
certain situations and that it takes someone of good moral character to decide with regularity and
reliability how and when to secure goods and resources for himself or herself and others. Aristotle
that states that, it is not easy to define in rules which acts deserve moral praise and blame , and
that, these matters require the judgment of the virtuous person, that is, someone with good moral
character.

Questions for Self-Reflection:


• What are the things that you consider as contributory elements to your moral character?
• Considering the circularity of the relationship of acts and moral character, how is moral
character developed?

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