Sources of Morality
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Three Sources (1750)
The three sources of morality:
- The object chosen
- The person's purpose
- The circumstances of the act
The Object Chosen (1751)
The object directly chosen by the will determines the basic morality (good or bad). The person's intellect sees this as according to moral standards (good) or not according to moral standards (evil).
The Intention (1752-1753)
The person also has an intention which determines the act's morality. An intention can guide many acts or even a whole lifetime (as loving God). One act can have a multiplicity of intentions (Doing a favor to help someone and also to receive a favor in return).
However, a good intention can never turn an evil act into a good one. A good purpose cannot justify evil means. However, an evil intention can make a good act into an evil one, such as giving alms to gain praise.
The Circumstances (1754)
Only the act and the intention make an act good or bad. The circumstances can increase or diminish the goodness or evil. For example, stealing a large amount of money increases the evil, while fear of harm can lessen a person's responsibility. Circumstances can never make an evil act into a good one.
Determining Good and Evil Acts (1755-1756)
An act is good when the object, the intention, and the circumstances are all good. A good act is vitiated by an evil intention (praying in order to be seen as good). Some acts are evil in themselves (as fornication) and are always wrong to choose.
Therefore, the person's intention and the circumstances, such as pressure or duress, cannot change a morally evil act, such as murder, blasphemy, or adultery, into a morally good act. We cannot do evil so good will come from it.
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