1 Libertarianism and Conscience

Question 1

What is the Greek word used to describe the conscience in the New Testament?

Answer 1

Synderisis

Question 2

What did Aquinas believe conscience is?

Answer 2

A device for distinguishing right and wrong using reason. “It is the reason making moral judgements”

Question 3

Aquinas argued there are two parts to making a moral decision, what are they?

Answer 3

Synderisis and conscienta

Question 4

What is synderisis?

Answer 4

Right reason, the awareness of the moral principle to do good and avoid evil.

Question 5

What is conscienta?

Answer 5

This distinguishes between right and wrong and applies knowledge to make the moral decisions.

Question 6

Who said: “Conscience doesn’t keep you from doing anything wrong; just from enjoying it”

Answer 6

King Stanislas I

Question 7

Who believed that conscience was within the centre of the soul?

Answer 7

St Paul

Question 8

Where was this written in the Bible/who by: ‘They can demonstrate the effects of the law engraved on their hearts, to which their own conscience bears witness’

Answer 8

Romans 2:15

Question 9

Who believes in the synderisis rule - that by nature humans want to do good and avoid evil?

Answer 9

Aquinas

Question 10

Why does Aquinas believe some people do evil deeds?

Answer 10

By mistake - they pursued an apparent good and not a real good - their consciences were mistaken.

Question 11

Who said: ‘if a man sleeps with another man’s wife, this is evil based on ignorance of a divine law he ought to know, but if he thought the woman was really his own wife and she wants him then his will is free from fault’

Answer 11

Aquinas

Question 12

Who wrote Summa Theologica

Answer 12

Aquinas

Question 13

Who thinks conscience is ‘reason making right decisions’

Answer 13

Aquinas

Question 14

Who says that synderisis is a special habit given to us by nature?

Answer 14

Aquinas

Question 15

Who says conscience is: ‘ a principle of reflection in men by which they distinguish between approval and disapproval of their own actions’

Answer 15

Butler

Question 16

Who believed humans were influenced by self love and benevolence (love of others)

Answer 16

Butler

Question 17

What does Butler think conscience drives us towards?

Answer 17

Benevolence (and away from focusing on ourselves.)

Question 18

Who believes conscience is God-given, innate, has ultimate authority and gives us instant intuitive judgements?

Answer 18

Butler

Question 19

Who thinks conscience should be obeyed unquestioningly?

Answer 19

Butler

Question 20

Who says conscience is “our natural guide assigned us by the Author of our nature, … it is our duty to walk in that path”

Answer 20

Butler - conscience is God given and it is our duty to follow it.

Question 21

Why do the Catholic Church tend towards Aquinas’ view rather than Butler?

Answer 21

Because obeyed conscience unquestioningly could justify all acts. Aquinas view means there is a possibility of error where conscience directs people to go against the law of God through ignorance.

Question 22

Who said that conscience can never motivate you to do something that goes against what is morally right?

Answer 22

Aquinas

Question 23

Who thinks to follow conscience is to follow a divine law as it is a messenger from God

Answer 23

cardinal John Henry Newman

Question 24

Who said ‘I toast the Pope, but I toast conscience first’

Answer 24

cardinal John Henry Newman

Question 25

Who said: ‘all are bound to follow their conscience faithfully in every activity so they may come to God’

Answer 25

Flannery

Question 26

Who said: ‘the individual must not be forced to act against their conscience nor be prevented from acting according to conscience, especially in religious matters.’

Answer 26

Flannery

Question 27

What does Freud believe the ego does

Answer 27

Takes into account the realities of the world and society, use reason and compassion to make decisions.

Question 28

What does Freud think the super-ego is

Answer 28

The internal anger and disapproval of others due to doing things to please superiors/for praise when younger.

Question 29

Who thinks that free will can be restricted due to guilt/guilty conscience

Answer 29

Freud - he thinks this overcomes reasoning to stop us acting as we freely would.

Question 30

Who says: ‘Butler exalts conscience, but appears ignorant that a man’s conscience may tell him to do the vilest things.’

Answer 30

Anscombe

Question 31

What does Fromm think about conscience?

Answer 31

It’s the voice of our true selves which helps us:
Live productively.
Develop fully.

Question 32

What does Macquarrie think about conscience?

Answer 32

It is a “built in monitor of moral action”

Question 33

What does Freud say conscience is? (Guilt/rejection)

Answer 33

“The internal perception of the rejection of a wish operating within us”

Question 34

How does Aquinas’ version of conscience fit with libertarianism?

Answer 34

As it can never motivate us to do morally wrong this could link with lib, as it curtails us for the good for ourselves/society and links with Mill’s harm principle.

Question 35

How does Butler’s view of conscience fit with lib?

Answer 35

It curtails as it is a duty, should obey unquestioningly, have no choice otherwise. However a lib might think it is your choice to follow conc as a duty.

Question 36

How does Paul/Augustine/Butler view of conscience fit with lib?

Answer 36

What are the implications if you don’t follow your conc? Also if conc is innate, it could curtail us on a subconscious level, we think we’re freely choosing something but our conc is guiding/influencing us.

Question 37

Where does Gorsky say the conscience appears in the Bible, although not labelled?

Answer 37

Joseph deciding not to sleep with Potiphar’s wife