Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume I › Book I. On the General Principles of the Christian Life › Treatise II. On Motion in Order to the Final End, or on the Human Act, Considered according to Moral Being › Dissertation I (Preliminary). On the Human Act, Considered according to Physical Being › Part II. The Elements of the Human Act Considered Separately › Section II. On the Free › Chapter I. On Liberty Considered in Itself

Section — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Scholion II. On the Distinction of Acts of the Will, Considered with Respect to the Defect or Degree of Deliberation

¶1.

Acts of the will, considered with respect to the defect or degree of deliberation, are usually distinguished:

The Distinction of Acts of the Will, Considered with Respect to the Defect or Degree of Deliberation

26.

I. Into first-first motions, which follow the first apprehension of the object, but anticipate every advertence to the morality of the act, as a sudden motion of anger. Motions of this sort are immune from all fault.

II. Into second-first motions, which occur with some advertence, but only imperfect or half-full advertence, to the morality of the act. These motions do not exceed venial sin.

III. Into second motions, which occur with full advertence to the morality of the act. They are therefore fully deliberate or perfectly voluntary, and consequently capable of grave malice (St. Thomas, De Malo, q. 7, a. 6, body, ad 6 and 8; St. Alphonsus, III, 3).

The Distinction of Acts of the Will, Considered with Respect to the Defect or Degree of Deliberation