Final answer:
A person acts with 'actual malice' when they are aware their actions are likely to cause a certain result, often referring to legal cases of defamation but also applying to a broader ethical perspective.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person acts with 'actual malice' in respect to a result of his or her conduct when he or she is aware that the conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result. Actual malice, in the legal context, refers to a person acting with knowledge of the falsehood or with reckless disregard for the truth, particularly in cases of defamation. The concept might have broader ethical implications, such as in assessing whether an action's consequences are right or wrong independent of the actor's intent or character, an idea explored in the field of normative ethics, including utilitarianism. When considering the ethics of a person's actions, if they continue to see some benefit or 'good' in their actions, they may continue to perform acts that are considered wrong by others. It is only when they understand and accept the reasons for these acts being considered wrong that they may cease to perform them. For example, if person P does act X and knows that others deem act X as wrong but believes it brings some advantage, then P may proceed unless convinced otherwise.