Interior and Exterior Acts in Natural Law
Natural law ethics distinguishes between interior acts (will, intention, desire) and exterior acts (observable behavior). Morality fundamentally concerns interior acts—the will's orientation—while exterior acts matter primarily as expressions and effects of interior will.
Real World
In criminal law, English courts distinguish murder from manslaughter based on intent — a driver who kills accidentally is treated differently from one who intended harm, mirroring Aquinas's interior/exterior act distinction that intention determines moral (and legal) culpability.
Exam Focus
Use the Latin terms 'actus reus' and 'mens rea' as a contemporary parallel to interior/exterior acts — it impresses examiners and shows applied understanding.
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