Magpakatao: Human Acts and Acts of Man

Summary

The video, hosted by Sir Kevin, explores philosophical insights about human actions and their moral implications. It distinguishes between 'human acts,' performed with knowledge, consent, and freedom, and 'acts of man,' which lack these qualities. Human acts, guided by intellect and will, can be morally classified as good or evil, whereas acts of man, such as reflexes or actions by those lacking reason, are not morally accountable. The video emphasizes that what makes an action truly human is the conscious use of intellect and will, highlighting the pursuit of truth and goodness.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Human acts are performed with knowledge, consent, and freedom, which means they are done knowingly, willingly, and freely.
• 📚 An action done with knowledge means the person understands what they are doing and can explain why.
• 🙋‍♂️ An action done with consent means the person voluntarily decides to perform the action.
• 🕊️ An action done with freedom means the person is not influenced by external forces or compulsion.
• ⚖️ Human acts can be morally classified as good or evil, as the person is responsible for their actions when done knowingly and willingly.
• 🔄 Acts of man, unlike human acts, are done without knowledge, consent, or freedom, and are not morally relevant as they are involuntary.
• 🫀 Examples of acts of man include natural bodily functions like digestion, heartbeat, and growth.
• 👶 Acts performed by people who lack the use of reason, such as children or the insane, are also considered acts of man.
• 🍷 Acts under the influence of sleep, hypnosis, alcohol, or drugs can be considered acts of man, but there may be some responsibility if the loss of control is voluntary.
• ⚡ Reflex actions or acts performed under violence or threat are acts of man since the will does not have time to intervene.

Q & A

What is the main distinction between a 'human act' and an 'act of man'?

A 'human act' is done with knowledge, consent, and freedom, while an 'act of man' lacks one or more of these elements. Human acts are voluntary and morally significant, while acts of man occur without voluntary control, such as reflexes or natural bodily functions.

What are the key characteristics of a human act?

A human act involves knowledge (understanding the action), consent (voluntarily deciding to do the action), and freedom (acting without external compulsion). These acts can be morally judged as good or evil.

Can you provide an example of a human act?

An example of a human act is eating food because you are hungry and you consciously decide to nourish yourself. The act is done knowingly, voluntarily, and without coercion.

What is an example of an 'act of man'?

Examples of acts of man include natural functions like digestion, heartbeat, and growth, or actions performed without full control, such as reflexes or actions by a person under hypnosis.

Can 'acts of man' ever become 'human acts'?

Yes, acts of man can become human acts when they are directed by the will. For example, consciously focusing your attention to look at something turns a simple visual perception into a human act.

Are children and insane persons responsible for their actions?

No, acts performed by children or insane persons, who lack the use of reason, are not considered human acts and thus are not morally accountable.

What role does intoxication or hypnosis play in human responsibility?

While actions performed under hypnosis or intoxication might reduce control, there is still some degree of responsibility if the loss of control was voluntary. For instance, choosing to get drunk does not entirely remove moral culpability.

What are 'primo-primi acts,' and are they considered human acts?

'Primo-primi acts' are quick, nearly automatic reactions like reflexes (e.g., withdrawing one's hand from heat). These acts happen too quickly for the will to intervene and are therefore not considered human acts.

Is a person responsible for actions performed under violence or threat?

No, actions performed under direct physical or moral violence, such as handing over belongings when threatened with a weapon, are not considered voluntary human acts and the person is not morally responsible.

What defines a person as human according to the script?

A person is defined as human by their use of intellect (the ability to understand truth) and will (the ability to decide and pursue what is good). These two faculties distinguish human acts from mere acts of man.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Understanding Human Actions: The Concept of Human Acts

In this introduction, the speaker, Sir Kevin, sets the stage by questioning what makes an action 'human' and explains the difference between human acts and acts of man. Human acts, or 'umana actor' in Latin, are those performed with knowledge, consent, and freedom. The speaker elaborates that a human act is something done knowingly, willingly, and freely, giving the example of eating when one is hungry. This section emphasizes that when an action is carried out with full awareness and voluntary decision, the individual becomes responsible for it and it can be morally classified as good or evil.

05:02

⚖️ Acts of Man: When Human Agency is Absent

This paragraph contrasts human acts with acts of man, also known as 'actor ominous' in Latin, which are actions done without knowledge, consent, or freedom. These acts occur without the individual’s conscious control, such as natural bodily functions (digestion, heartbeat), actions of individuals lacking reason (children or mentally ill people), and acts performed while asleep, under hypnosis, or influence of substances. Although some acts of man involve minimal willpower, the speaker explains there could still be moral responsibility if the loss of control was voluntary, such as choosing to become drunk.

Keywords

💡Human act

A 'human act' refers to an action that is performed with knowledge, consent, and freedom. In the video, this is described as an act done knowingly, willingly, and freely. For example, a person choosing to eat because they are hungry and desire nourishment is a human act. This concept emphasizes that humans are responsible for their actions when they have full control and understanding of them.

💡Act of man

An 'act of man' is an action done without knowledge, consent, or freedom, and thus lacks the voluntary aspect of human acts. Examples provided include natural biological processes like heartbeat and digestion, or actions performed under external influences, such as reflexes or acts performed under hypnosis. The video distinguishes these acts from human acts because they are not morally classified.

💡Knowledge

Knowledge, as used in the video, refers to the awareness and understanding of what one is doing when performing a human act. It is one of the essential elements of a human act. For instance, a person knows they are eating because they are hungry, making them responsible for the action.

💡Consent

Consent in the context of human acts means willingly deciding to perform an action. The video emphasizes that consent is necessary for an action to be classified as a human act, as it indicates that the person acted voluntarily. For example, someone eats not just because they need to, but because they chose to.

💡Freedom

Freedom refers to the absence of external forces compelling an action, allowing the person to act according to their own will. The video explains that a human act must be done freely, without coercion or force, such as eating because one desires to, rather than being forced to do so by someone else.

💡Moral responsibility

Moral responsibility is the accountability that comes with performing human acts, which can be classified as either good or evil based on intent and awareness. The video provides an example of stealing, where the individual knows it is wrong but chooses to do it anyway, making them morally responsible for their actions.

💡Vegetative acts

Vegetative acts refer to automatic biological processes, such as digestion and heartbeat, that occur without conscious control. The video uses these as examples of 'acts of man' because they happen naturally and without deliberate intent, meaning they cannot be classified as morally significant.

💡Primo primi acts

Primo primi acts are nearly instantaneous, reflexive actions, such as pulling one's hand away from a hot object. The video explains that these actions occur so quickly that the will does not have time to intervene, meaning they are not considered human acts and carry no moral weight.

💡Violence

Violence, in this context, refers to external force or threats that compel a person to act against their will. The video explains that actions performed under violence, such as giving in to a robber with a knife, are not considered human acts because they are not done freely, thus absolving the person from moral responsibility.

💡Culpability

Culpability refers to the degree of blame or responsibility a person holds for an action. The video discusses how certain acts, like those done under the influence of alcohol, can still carry indirect culpability if the loss of control was voluntary, such as choosing to drink knowing it might impair judgment.

Highlights

The distinction between a human act (umani actus) and an act of man (actus hominis) is introduced.

A human act is defined as an act done with knowledge, consent, and freedom.

Human acts are those done knowingly, willingly, and freely, such as choosing to eat because one is hungry.

When an act is done with knowledge, the agent understands what he is doing and can explain why.

When an act is done with consent, the agent acknowledges they wanted to perform the act and voluntarily decided to do it.

When an act is done with freedom, the agent is not under external forces or compulsion.

Human acts, because they are deliberate, can be morally classified as either good or evil.

An act of man (actus hominis) is done without knowledge, consent, or freedom, and is not morally classified.

Examples of acts of man include natural bodily functions like digestion and heartbeat.

Acts of man also include actions performed by children, insane persons, or those under the influence of hypnosis, alcohol, or drugs.

Primo primi acts are quick, nearly automatic reactions that happen without the intervention of the will.

Acts performed under violence or threat of violence are also acts of man, not morally voluntary.

A human being's nature involves using intellect (to know the truth) and will (to decide and pursue the good).

The speaker emphasizes that loss of control due to voluntary causes, like drunkenness, still carries moral responsibility.

The conclusion urges listeners to 'fall in love with Sofia,' symbolizing wisdom and philosophical pursuit.

Transcripts

welcome to hashtag I love Sofia this is

sir Kevin for your dose of philosophical

truths you have heard that it was said

Madelene madinat al Rahman Tata but what

makes an action human in nature and what

is it to be human

today we will learn the difference

between a human acts and an active man

on one hand a human acts or umaña

actor in Latin is an act done with

knowledge consent and freedom

thus a human act is so to speak

something done knowingly willingly and

freely with me what does that mean first

when an act is done with knowledge the

agent understands what he is doing and

able to explain why it is done for

instance I ate because I am angry and I

need food to nourish me second when an

app is done with consent the agent

acknowledges that the act was done

because he wanted to and so he

voluntarily decided to you for example I

ate because I really wanted to and so I

do 3rd when an app is done with freedom

the agent is not under the influence of

external forces and the act was done

under compulsion for instance I ate not

because my mother forced me to

the summer human acts then are acts that

man does as a man that is of which he is

properly master because he dosed him

with full knowledge and of his own will

now when a man acts in a deliberate

manner here so to speak the father of

his acts being responsible for this acts

can be morally classified that is they

are either good or evil for example I

could be punished for stealing because

though I knew that stealing is morally

evil and I am aware where it could lead

me to steal I decided to do so even no

one forced me on the other hand an act

of man or actor ominous in Latin is an

act done without knowledge consent or

freedom or lacking any those are acts at

man performs without being master of

them through his intellects and will the

principal acts of man are not concern of

morals since they are not voluntary the

following are examples of acts of men

first the natural acts of vegetative and

sense faculties digestion beating of the

heart growth corporal reactions and

visual or auditive perceptions could you

control your heartbeat

do you command your fingernails to grow

though you could not and you do not

still they do however this acts become

human apps when performed under the

direction of the will as when he

intently look at something or arouse her

selves second acts of persons who lack

the use of reason such as a case with

children or insane persons will you

consider your baby a criminal if he hits

you with his drinking bottle or throws a

toy a teen third acts of people who are

asleep or under the influence of

hypnosis alcohol or other drugs in this

case however there may still be some

degree of control by the will moreover

there is indirect responsibility of the

cause of the loss of control is

voluntary so if you think you could use

drunkenness as an excuse sorry

still there is culpability in

[Music]

fourth quick nearly automatic reactions

called primo preemie acts this are

reflex and nearly instantaneous

reactions such as withdrawing one's hand

or accidentally hitting someone out of

surprise in which the will does not have

time to intervene

finally apps performed under violence or

threat of violence this includes

physical in some cases moral violence a

woman for instance who hands over his

belonging to a man pointing a knife at

her side will not be responsible for

such unfortunate facts indeed what makes

a human in nature is precisely the use

of what makes man a man that is the

intellect and the world

the former being the capacity to know

what is true and the latter the capacity

to decide and pursue what is good

operatic sequitur si

Benedicta and vinegar wah mo naku

I know Papa Papa but Papa Papa Hindi

mahira plug pocket oh cool Alamo poom

and no unforgiving tahoe again this has

been circling and together let us fall

in love with Sofia let us fall in love

with wisdom

[Music]