Conscience Flashcards
name 2 people who had non religious ideas about nature of conscience
Kohlberg
freud
what was Kohlberg view about conscience
behaviour developed through social interaction
identified 3 levels with 2 substages
1. preconventional level - primary school children
moral code shaped by standards of adults consequences of breaking the rules
- punishment for doing something wrong
- individualism realise not just one right view
2. Conventional morality - most adults - begin to moral standards of valued adult role models
- waiting for apporval
- maintaining social order - become aware of others rules
3. Post conventional morality - individual judgement based on self chosen principles
- social contract and individual rights aware that rules are there there are times when they will work against interest
- universal principles have developed own set of moral guidelines might not fit into law
what was freud view about conscience
- believed in no such thing as a soul view on mind was mechanistic
- human mind had 3 areas
- super ego moral controls given to use by outside influences
- ego - part seen by outside world
- id - unconscience part - repressed by memories - conscience connected with sense of guilt
give 4 religious people about ideas about nature of conscience
fletcher
Schleiermacher
butler
Aquinas
what is fletchers view on conscience
conscience as agape
rejected all interpretations of conscience
conscience is a verb way humans do when using ahapeic caucus
what is Schleiermacher view on conscience
innate voice of God
hearing voice of God whispering to us
conscience must be obeyed
give challenge to Schleiermacher view
- why does god speak to some but not others
- why do people come up with different answers
- how can we be sure its from God
what is Butlers view on conscience - 6
- what distinguishes us from animals
- most people would know right from wrong if choice wrong was worse then doing actual action
- even if misinformed conscience must always be obeyed
- conscience enables us to asses what it is right and to keep balance - which should take priority
- principle of reflection - god works closely with conscience
- gives basic instinctive drives and self love and love for others
what is a challenge to Butlers view - 1
over optimistic that people know right from wrong
give aquinas view on conscience
give 2 aspects of conscience
and 2 ignorance
and conclusion
- conscience not voice of God but mind of man making moral judgement
- all have natural instincts to do good
- 2 aspects of conscience
- using reason - understanding primacy precepts
- learning right from wrong
may be mistaken through ignorance - vincible ignorance - when they don’t make effort to understand church teaching
- invincible ignorance - when have made very effort to inform there conscience some ambiguity not a sin
once conscience has made a choice myst be obeyed
give the 2 situations were the role of conscience in making moral decisions can be applied
- adultery
- telling lies and breaking promises
adultery - 3
1. reason based approaches
- aquinas conflicts the syneresis rule - conflicts with living in an ordered society
- contrary to divine laws on marriage act
- bitter rect against bible
adultery - 2
2. psychological approaches
- adultery would not be seen as moral issue
- freud a guilty conscience arises out of social restrictions
adultery - 2
3. situationist approaches
- it depends on agape calculus
- no absolute right or wrong
adultery - 1
4. voice of God approach
- in line with 10 commandments
adultery - 2
5. society linked approaches
- changed views on marriage
- others see threat to stability of society
telling lies and breaking promises -2
1. reason based approaches
- conflicts the synderesis rule - contravenes primary precept of ordered society
- bulter - lying might be right in some situations
telling lies and breaking promises -2
2. psychological approaches
- lying and promise breaking would not be seen as moral issues
- would be concern if raised emotional issues - guilt
telling lies and breaking promises -1
3. situationist approaches
- no right or wrong
depends on agape calc
telling lies and breaking promises
4. voice of God approach
- 10 commandments
- Morden thinkers guidance might go against all accepted ethical rules
telling lies and breaking promises - 1
5. society linked approaches
fear of punishment - motivated to keep promises
value of conscience as a moral guide - 3
1. reason based approaches
- emotions and social conditioning can also influence and distort it
- conscience is not infallible
- encourages an objective approach to right or wrong
value of conscience as a moral guide - 1
2. physiological approach
3. situationist approach
4. voice of God approach
5. society linked approaches
- feeling hail ca act as a warning
value of conscience as a moral guide - 1
3. situationist approach
application of agape calculus
value of conscience as a moral guide - 1
4. voice of God approach
runs risk of being subjective and unreliable
value of conscience as a moral guide - 1
5. society linked approaches
have no value morality of society was corrupt
a collective conscience could unite society
what is key issues with value of conscience as a moral guide - 2
- nobody agrees on what conscience is or how ut functions
- only way of resolving if everyone could agree on some general moral principles
