Question 20 — Of Goodness and Malice in External Human Affairs

We must next consider goodness and malice as to external actions: under which head there are six points of inquiry:

(1) Whether goodness and malice is first in the act of the will, or in the external action?

• (2) Whether the whole goodness or malice of the external action depends on the goodness of the will?
• (3) Whether the goodness and malice of the interior act are the same as those of the external action?
• (4) Whether the external action adds any goodness or malice to that of the interior act?
• (5) Whether the consequences of an external action increase its goodness or malice?
• (6) Whether one and the same external action can be both good and evil?