35

of 76

ACTS OF MANThose actions which happen in man They are instinctive and are not within the control
of the willActions are biological and physiological movements in man such as metabolism, respiration,
fear, anger, love, and jealousy.

Essential AttributesFor an act to be considered a human act, it must possess the following
characteristics:It must be performed by a conscious agent who is aware of what he is doing and of its
consequences. Children below the age of reason, the insane, and the senile-are incapable of acting
knowingly.It must be performed by an agent who is acting freely, that is by his own volition and powers.
An action done under duress and against one’s will is not entirely a free action.It must be performed by
an agent who decides willfully to perform the act. This willfulness is the resolve to perform an act here
and now, or in some future time.

KINDS OF HUMAN ACTS Human acts are either elicited acts or commanded acts. Elicited acts are those
performed by the will and are not bodily externalized.

1.Wish-
isthetendencyofwilltowardssomething,whetherthisberealizableornot.Itmayincludetheimpossible,orthat
whichisremotelypossible,suchaswinningthesweepstakes.2.Intention-
isthetendencyofthewilltowardssomethingattainablebutwithoutnecessarilycommittingoneselftoattainit.Su
chisourintentiontostudythelesson,toattendaparty,tospendavacationinBaguio.Paul Glenn enumerates the
following elicited acts:
3.Consent-
istheacceptanceofthewillofthoseneededtocarryouttheintention.Thus,awomanistoshowconsentwhenshec
onsciouslyattractsattentiontoherself.4.Election-
istheselectionofthewillofthosemeanseffectiveenoughtocarryouttheintention.Asalesmanshowselectionsh
owswhenheoptstovisitaclientinsteadjustwritinghimaletter.

5.Use-
isthecommandofthewilltomakeuseofthoseusemeanselectedtocarryouttheintention.Itisthisactofthewillwh
ichmovesthesalesmantodressupandtakearidetoseehisclient.6.Fruition-
istheenjoymentofthewillderivedfromtheattainmentofthethinghehaddesiredearlier.Thejoyofthewomanon
beingcomplimentedforherattractiveness,or,thesatisfactionofthesalesmaninclosingadealwithhisclient-
isfruition.

COMMANDED ACTS-are those done either by man’s mental or bodily powers under the command of the
will. -can either be internal or external actions.Examples of Internal Actions-conscious reasoning-
recalling something-encouraging oneself-controlling aroused emotions and others

EXAMPLES OF EXTERNAL ACTIONS -walking, eating, dancing, laughing, listening, reading and others.
Actions that are combinations of internal and external movements:-listening, studying, reading, driving
a car, writing a letter , or playing chess.