A Topic of Moral Theology

Indifferent acts

Whether acts neither good nor bad exist in the abstract and in the concrete.

Also asked about as…

morally neutral actions (ed.)

In the index as Act · Human Acts · Human act · Indifferent act · Indifferent acts · Indifference · Morality · Good · Goodness · Actions · Acts · End · External · Human act and act of man · Imputability of the human act · Indifferent things · Intention · Liberty · Malice · Moral evil · Object of the human act

In the manuals

Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)

Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology, On the Principles of Moral…, Book Second. On Acts Apt F…, Appendix. On Acts Morally Indifferent, nn. 93, 94 & 95 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries

Vol. I, Bk. I, Ch. IV, Section I. The Essence of Morality, n. 3 — There is considerable difference of opinion as to whether, besides the division into good and bad actions, we must also admit a third class, neither good nor bad, but indifferent. In the abstract, indifferent actions cer… Read in context →

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. I, Bk. I, Tr. II, Diss. II, Pt. II, Section II. On the Indifferent Act, n. 246 — The discussion is of human or deliberated acts alone. Now: I. There are acts indifferent according to species. For an act considered in species or in the abstract is understood as an act viewed according to its object. "… Read in context →

Moral Theology: A Complete Course (McHugh & Callan)

Vol. I, Pt. I, Q. I, Art. 3. Acts as Moral, Indifferent Acts, nn. 82, 83, 84, 85 & 86 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Commentaries on Human Acts (Commentarii de Actibus Humanis)

Bucceroni, Commentaries on Human Acts, Commentary X: On the Moral Goodness and Malice of Human Acts, n. 2 — 2. Here the question is raised whether there are indifferent human acts, i.e. acts which are neither morally good nor morally evil, neither honorable nor base. — If human acts are considered in the abstract, or according… Read in context →

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Vol. I, Treatise on Human Acts, Ch. III, Article I. On the Essence of Morality, n. 24 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Vol. II, Fundamental Moral Theology…, On Human Acts — Chapter II: On the Morality of the Human Act, nn. 189, 190, 191, 192, 193 & 194 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Vol. I, Pt. I, Tr. II, Chapter I. On The Nature And Divisions Of Human Acts, n. 31 — 31. 3. A good act, an evil act, an indifferent act, according as it is either conformed to right reason as the norm of morality, or deformed from it, or indifferent to right reason. For example, a good act is prayer to G… Read in context →

Vol. I, Pt. I, Tr. II, Ch. III, Art. III, § 1. On the Indifference of Acts, nn. 127, 128, 129, 130 & 131 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Vol. I, General Moral Theology, Treatise: On Human Acts in…, Second Part: On Human Acts…, Section A: On the Morality…, Question I: On the Essence and Species of Morality, nn. ¶1, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118 & 119 (27 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, General Moral Theology, Treatise: On Human Acts in…, Second Part: On Human Acts…, Section A: On the Morality…, Question IV: On the Specific Distinction Between a Good and an Evil Act, nn. ¶1, ¶2, 144, 145 & 146 (14 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, General Moral Theology, Treatise: On Human Acts in…, Second Part: On Human Acts…, Section A: On the Morality…, Q. V, Article III: On the End, n. 160 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology

Vol. I, Tr. I, Ch. IV, Article I. On the Essence of Morality, nn. 23 & 23, Q. 2 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Tr. I, Ch. IV, Article II. On the Sources of Morality, n. 24 — The sources of morality are named those principles which bestow upon human acts their species, or a modification of the species, in the genus of morals. Three sources of morality are numbered, namely: 1st, the object of … Read in context →

Summa Summae S. Thomae (Billuart)

Billuart, Summa Summae, Tomus II. On the Prima Sec…, On Human Acts, On Human Acts in Their Mor…, Whether there are indifferent acts?, nn. 1–16 (16 passages)

Treated under the broader heading The Essence of Morality — Vermeersch, Theologia Moralis · Konings, Theologia Moralis — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)