Title V: On the Human Act as Imputable and Meritorious

Usefulness. Human and moral acts tend to this, that they perfect man. The perfection of man depends upon imputability unto merit. Hence is evident the importance of this inquiry; and it is also clear from this, that there comes before us the explanation of a principle which has perpetual use in moral theology: the principle concerning the permission of evil and concerning the double effect.

Notions and division. Imputation is the attribution of some action, or of some effect, to someone as to its true free author. He who imputes, according to the varied case, praises, blames, rewards, chastises. But in him to whom something is imputed, there is had a title of honor, of glory, of ignominy, a right of obtaining some good, or a necessity, physical or moral, of bearing disagreeable consequences.

Both God and public power, ecclesiastical or civil, demand an account of actions. Hence there is distinguished moral imputation, in the forum of God and in the opinion of men ¹, and forensic imputation, or imputation in the human forum, to which the judge attends.

For the present condition of man, besides the general question of moral imputation, a special question is posited concerning supernatural imputation, in order to the merit of divine life.

¹ Why is imputation among men called moral? Because, as God does, so men consult no other norm in their opinion than the objective norm of honesty, by which conscience itself is regulated. In the human forum law and delict are considered.