4 ACT

tivism with its protest against ACT 5

they were not always pursued
canonization and dogmatization with equal consistency. Some quences , intentions and deeds, deeds. Components of the
of the prevailing morals, abso- secular ethical doctrines of ends and means . One can judge structure of moral act make up
lutism could be interpreted in modem times also bear the of man’s acts by the elements in the content of moral duty ful -
two ways. On the one hand, its ideas of absolutism. For its structure which include: mo- filled by man and all of them
adherents often opposed the example, the British philos- tive, intention , goal , deed , con- ate taken into consideration in
relative and conditional charac- opher Shaftesbury sought to sequences, the agent’s appraisal appraising an act (what is done
ter of the prevailing morals, prove that people’s under- of his own act and his attitude and with what purpose, what is
their unscrupulousness and standing of morality is of innate to its appraisal by other people.
subordination to political inter - nature, invariable and cannot )( The role of various elements of
the agent’s attitude to his ac -
ests of the ruling groups; they be substantiated by references an act, especially its motives
tion ). In analyzing the signific
ance of various aspects of an
-
put forward incontestable laws to human interests and com- and consequences, received dif - act it is important to take into
of morality, which should be monweal (Moral sense, theories ferent assessments in the his- account the role they play in
observed by all, as a counter -
balance to the degrading mo- veloped the principle of abso-
-
of ). Kant , as well as Spencer de tory of ethics: either the motive moral relations and activities.
/ is given primary importance E.g., as he fulfils his duty man is
rals of the privileged classes.
On the other hand, such a ism , an ethical theory which
-
lutism in their ethics. Intuition / ( Moral goodness, theory of ) or
only the action itself is con-
not always aware at the given
critique of the prevailing mor- maintains that moral concepts moment of why he acts this way.
sidered significant (Deontologi- This does not of course mean
ality did not deny it in principle of good and duty are invariable cal intuitionism ) . Those who at -
but only substantiated the idea and absolute, that basic moral ' that he acts unconsciously. He
' tributed major significance to has no need to motivate his act
of its inviolability and univer- truths are discerned directly the consequences of actions
sality. Therefore, absolutists and need no proof , can serve as in every concrete case, to work
( sometimes ended up with moral an example of a modern trend
{ Consequential ethics ) , believed
that the achievement of adequ-
out a decision, if moral acts
dogmatism and rigorism . Abso- in moral philosophy which ad- ate moral results must also be
have become a habit. The seem
ingly absent moments of an act
-
lutist view of morality was first vances the ideas of absolutism. man’s subjective goal { Hedon-
developed back in antiquity. Marxist -Leninist ethics is based can always be recreated and the
on a concrete historical ap- ism , Eudaemonism , Utilitarian - whole activity of a given man
Socrates , Plato and Euclid of ism , Egoism, theories of ). As a
Megara interpret good as an proach to the nature of morality analyzed (in case he himself
\ and associates it with social rule, they were less interested wants to analyze the character
abstract, eternal idea opposite in the role of a motive in moral of his actions which used to
/
to all that is changeable and -
conditions and with people’s in
actions. Integral conception of seem natural to him before).
conditioned in the material
world. Absolutist views on the
nature of morality in general
are also characteristic of the
terests and needs.

-
ACT, a moral action , an action
regarded from the standpoint
\ an act is more correct which
treats it as an action in which
the unity of value and oper -
ajionaj aspects of man’s acti -
Comprehensive analysis and
appraisal of an act is possible
only if it is not considered in
isolation, but in the context of
Christian doctrine, although of unity of motive and conse - vities is ensured by harmony of
"
knowledge, convictions and
man’s conduct in general, his
moral character as a whole. The
6 ACTION ALCOHOLISM 7
unity of motives and conse- committed under coercion or ordinated to definite moral pathological excessive drinking
quences is achieved, estab- the threat of death. In a moral goals . Moral concepts are ca - which engendered alcoholism
lished and displayed not in an action the following aspects are pable of orienting people in so- as a social phenomenon. Im-
isolated act of conduct, but in a distinguished: the goal ; use of cial reality and guide tneir acti- moderate drinking was wide-
whole series of acts organized the available means ( Ends and vities only when they reflect the spread among peoples with
into a system, built into a line of means ); volitional efforts and real historical process. Only weak tribal and social ties,
conduct. overcoming of obstacles to when the pursuits of people strong faith in the magic and
achieve the result implied by correspond to objective social witchcraft, and unstable econ-
the very nature of the action; necessity can they resolve his- omic structure, while the desire
ACTION (moral]). An act is torical tasks, being guided by
usually regarded in ethics as a consequences to which the ac- of a person for a socio-cultural
tion has led as a result of its in - moral goals. At the same time, dependence on the community
single action if it has led to a there is no doubt as to the inde-
definite socially significant re- teraction with external circum- was suppressed and the free-
stances. All these aspects must pendent significance of moral dom of moral choice and indi-
sult (Deed ) possessing a posi- motives in human activities.
tive or negative moral value be taken into consideration in vidual responsibility was pro-
which can be subjected to the moral evaluation of action. claimed. All this determined
moral evaluation and for the ALCOHOLISM [Arab al the, the compensatory vital function
performance of which man can ACTIVITIES ( moral ), ethical koh’l powder for staining of alcohol in the traditional so-
be considered responsible (Re
sponsibility ). Acts of a purely
- category by means of which the
moral aspect is singled out in all
eyelids], social pathology, var -
iety of deviant behaviour. Alco-
ciety: the suppression of
anxiety, fear, misgivings and
physiological nature cannot be the diversity of man’s social holism is regarded by science as lack of confidence in oneself
considered as moral. Moral ac- practice and the specifically a disease caused bv the syste - and the future. The 20th-cen-
tion Ls always a social act ( ren- moral motives out of all other matic abuse of alcoholic bever- tury society is characterized by
dering assistance, fulfilling types of inducement (material ages, dependence on them and the rise of individualistic tend-
promises, deceit, theft, trea- interests , habits , inclinations ): mental and physiological disor - encies in all spheres of life and
chery). Acts for which man can- the desire to do good , obeyance ders developing on this basis. an unprecedented growth of
not be held responsible cannot of the sense of duty , pursuit of From ancient times, consump- the all- pervading competition.
be considered as moral actions certain ideals . Ethics studies tion of alcoholic beverages was In these circumstances, man
either, e.g. acts committed in- precisely this, moral aspect of habitual in all cultures on cere- feels a need for alcoholic bever -
voluntarily (in a state of hyp- human activities which on the monial, sacrificial and other so- ages not only as a remedy for
nosis, during infancy, in a state whole are examined by various cially integrating occasions as a social stresses and as a means
of diminished responsibility), sciences. In contrast to conduct stimulant or anaesthetic. Alco- of relaxation but also as a pecu -
under the influence of purely embracing the totality of man’s hol was administered in strictly liar mechanism of social inte-
physical forces. Often, it is also actions, moral activities in limited quantities and it was gration into a cultural society.
considered that a person does ethics include only those ac- regulated by customs and tradi- However, in the absence of the
not bear responsibility for acts tions which are consciously sub- tions . However, there was also generally accepted norms of