Definitions

𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦
Church of the Best Possible World

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𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲

This page provides precise definitions of key terms used throughout the moral framework and Canon of the Church of the Best Possible World. These definitions are intended to ensure clarity, consistency, and shared understanding. Where definitions differ from common usage, the meanings given here take precedence within the context of the Church’s doctrine.

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𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲

True independent of any individual mind, opinion, intuition, emotion, cultural norm, or subjective perspective.

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𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

That which concerns how the wills of conscious agents.

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𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

A moral fact or moral status that is true independent of any mind, belief, intuition, or feeling.

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𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

An action that factually constitutes voluntary assistance of will, regardless of how it is perceived or interpreted by any agent.

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𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

An action that factually constitutes an involuntary imposition of will, regardless of intention, belief, or outcome.

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𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹

The capacity of a conscious agent to form preferences, intentions, or desires regarding their own actions, body, or property. (e.g. Your will does not apply to another's body)

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𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁

Any being capable of subjective experience and possessing a will. Moral consideration applies to all conscious agents regardless of intelligence, power, or form.

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𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹

An action that supports or enables the will of a conscious agent with that agent’s informed and non-coerced consent.

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𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹

An action that interferes with, overrides, or constrains the will of a conscious agent without that agent’s informed and non-coerced consent.

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Justified Immoral Action
An action that constitutes an involuntary imposition of will, but is performed to prevent, stop, or reduce other involuntary impositions when no fully non-imposing option is available, and the least-imposing effective option is chosen.
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Unjustified Moral Action
An action that, in fact, assists a person’s will (they do consent, or would have consented if given the opportunity), but where the actor lacked adequate warrant of consent at the time of acting and could have used a consent-seeking or lower-risk alternative.
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𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁

Agreement given by a conscious agent that is informed, voluntary, and free from coercion, manipulation, or duress.

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𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀

Any condition under which consent is extracted through threat, force, deprivation, or undue pressure, thereby invalidating that consent.

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𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

An action that constitutes an involuntary imposition of will but is performed to prevent a greater involuntary imposition of will. Such actions remain immoral and require acknowledgment and atonement.

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𝗨𝗻𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

An action intended as assistance of will where consent is uncertain, and where the action ultimately supports or enables the will of a conscious agent.

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𝗔𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

The acknowledgment of having committed an immoral action, accompanied by efforts to remedy, repair, or take responsibility for the moral violation.

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𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The principle that moral and immoral actions do not offset, cancel, or aggregate. Each action retains its own moral status regardless of other actions performed.

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𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 (𝗕𝗣𝗪)

A world in which involuntary imposition of will is impossible, such that no conscious agent can be forced to act without consent.

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𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

An action that may be the most moral action an agent is capable of performing given their limitations, but which is not the most moral action that any logically possible being could perform in the same circumstances.

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𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The most moral action possible for any logically possible being in a given situation, independent of practical limitations.