Conscience

Question 1

Ratio

Answer 1

Term used by Aquinas to describe reason which is placed in every person being created in the image of God

Question 2

Synderesis

Answer 2

For Aquinas it means to do good and avoid evil – the rule that all precepts follow

Question 3

Conscientia

Answer 3

The name Aquinas gives to the process whereby the person’s reason makes moral judgements.

Question 4

Vincible ignorance

Answer 4

Aquinas’ term for a lack of knowledge for which a person is responsible.

Question 5

Invincible ignorance

Answer 5

A lack of knowledge for which a person is not responsible and cannot be blamed for.

Question 6

Id

Answer 6

The part of the psyche (mind) that has instinctive impulses that seek satisfaction in pleasure

Question 7

Ego

Answer 7

Freud’s word to describe the mediation between the id and the super-ego.

Question 8

Superego

Answer 8

Part of the mind which contradicts the id and uses internalised ideals from parents and society to make the ego behave properly.

Question 9

Piaget

Answer 9

The developmental conscience
Moral reasoning is linked to a child’s general cognitive developement. 2 stages: Heternomous Morality (5-11) - Looks beyond itself for moral authority. Rules are obeyed. Immoral acts are judged by observable conssequences. Autonomous Morality (10+) - Develop a personal code of conduct based on perceptions of socially acceptable behaviour.
Adults use a mixture of these two approaches

Question 10

Newman

Answer 10

Conscience as the voice of God
Conscience is ‘a messenger’ of God and it is God speaking to us when we feel the intuitive moral knowledge to make decisions.
Conscience does not invent the truth, but at its best detects the truth.

Question 11

Freud

Answer 11

Conscience is guilt
Secular
Conscience is most clearly connected with the sense of guilt we feel when we go against our conscience

Question 12

Butler

Answer 12

Conscience comes from God
Conscience holds a powerful position in moral decision making.
Linked closely with conscience is the ‘principle of reflection’ which makes us approve or disapprove of our actions. This is given to us by God.
Conscience is a person’s God-given guide to right conduct and its demands must therefore always be followed.
Butler did not see mistakes made by conscience as a serious but he consid

Question 13

Aquinas

Answer 13

Reason seeking understanding
science is reasoning used correctly to find out what God sees is good.
Synderesis - Aquinas’ idea of what he termed ‘right’ reason by which a person acquires knowledge of basic moral principles and understands that it is important to do good and avoid evil.
Conscientia - Aquinas called this the actual ethical judgement or decision a person made.
Religious (Christian)