Conscience Flashcards
What is Wolsey’s understanding of conscience
An inner feeling or someones thoughts, Henry VII conscience burdened his present marriage
What is More’s understanding of conscience
Not a personal feeling but a rational reflection on moral standards in church tradition
What does Aquinas argue all humans are cerated in and what does this mean
All humans are created in the image of God, this gives humans ability to reason
Aquinas term for reason
Ratio
What is Aquinas opinion on what the conscience is
It is humans unique god given ability to be able to reason and deliberate and reach judgement when provided with moral matters, it is a decision making tool
What two words does aquinas draw on and make a distinction in his explanation of conscience
Synderesis - Natural desire to do good and avoid evil, this is a moral rule that humans have the desire to fulfil
Conscientia - The human process of forming moral judgements, combining the use of reason with syneresis to make moral decisions, this is the conscience for aquinas
What can conscience be objectively defined as
A persons moral sense of right and wrong as a guide to their actions
What are the three main areas of debate in Conscience
- Origins of conscience
- Authority of conscience
- Disobeying of conscience
How does Aquinas view on human nature relate to Conscience
Human nature is good so humans don’t delibaretly choose evil acts, rather they make mistakes when reasoning which can lead to wrong actions
What are the two things that cause mistakes to be made in the conscience
Vincible ignorance
Invincible ignorance
Vincible ignorance
Person is responsible for their lack of knowledge, the person has applied reasoning incorrectly, committing adultery is wrong but the person used reason wrong in believing that it might be the good thing to do
Invincible ignorance
Person isn’t responsible for their lack of knowledge, reasoning had acted correctly in the moment but a person may have been deceived, so it isn’t their fault, committing adultery but thinking it was your wife
Strengths of Aquinas view of conscience
- Better than other theological views by centrality of reason
- Reason is what separates humans from animals
- Provides a good explanation of moral disagreement in imperfect reasoning
- Explains why someones moral views may change over time
- Principle of syneresis provides a very positive view
- Ignorances provide explanation for wrong actions
Weaknesses of Aquinas view of conscience
- Doesn’t consider gods revelation
- Conscience isnt reflective and deliberative but immediate and intuitive
- Fails to account for social factors that affect peoples moral views
- Not all people always seek the good
- Aquinas says we should obey conscience even if it is wrong
- He is overly optimistic about human nature
What is St Paul’s view of conscience
The theological argument that it is the voice of god speaking to humans on what is right and wrong, innate in all humans, Saul converted to Saint Paul because of his conscience
—-> challenged by why there is moral disagreement
What is Cardinal Newmans view of Conscience
When a person follows their conscience it is a mysterious divine law, God is ones conscience, those who follow it are religious believers
—-> non religious believers still follow their conscience
What Analogy does Wilkinson and Wilcockson use to portray Aquinas view of conscience
Reason or ratio is the Architects design skills that allow him to build a house. Synderesis is his intention behind the use of his skills to build a good quality house
What did Freud believe the mind and conscience was
The mind was like a machine with multiple working, conscience is one of the workings in the mind that psychology will one day be able to explain
What are the three aspects of personality
id - unconscious basic desires and drives
ego - conscious that mediates between the id and demands of society
SuperEgo - within the ego, internalised ideals from authority figures that often oppose the id
What does Freud define the conscience as
The super ego
What is Freuds explanation of why the superego is the conscience
Superego contains internalised rules from societies authority figures, which is why it is a punishing force for when the ego gives in to the id, using feelings of guilt, as someone will feel guilty if they disobey their conscience
Freuds oedipus complex
Children develop a sexual fixation on their mother so develop feelings of jealousy and fear towards fathers. These are repressed and cause guilt.
Why does Freud argue that we create Gods as male
Feelings of need for forgiveness from fathers materialises in the ultimate father figure, in tribal religions they realised the need for a father figure for protection.
Strengths of Freuds view
- Freud begins with feelings of guilt which is how conscience is revealed to us
- conscience is immediate and Freuds view reflects this
- Psychological view is more credible as it is scientific and empirical
- Freud explains moral disagreements with conscience as it is a result of peoples differing upbringings
Weaknesses of Freuds view
- Freuds research waste scientific as he had a small amount of psychologically challenged patients
- Too much emphasis on libido
- doesn’t consider theological viewpoint
- Is a very negative view of cosnceince reducing it to a guilt function
How does Popper criticise Freud
He argues he sent scientific as his findings aren’t falsifiable due to the fact they are unconscious
What does Newman argue guilt is
Guilt feelings when disobeying conscience implies there is a responsibility to obey ones conscience, this responsibility is owed to God
What is a criticism of Newmans view
It doesn’t tell the person how to use their conscience just what it is
Why does Freud argue humans feel guilt
Because the ego can never live up to the impossible standards put in place by parents and authorities and upheld in the superego
What is Aquinas view of guilt
Guilt is felt when someone is being irrational, when they aren’t using their reason right.
What is Fromm’s belief
Humans have two consciences, the humanistic conscience and the authoritative conscience
Fromms authoritative conscience
Authoritative figures enact rules and punishments along with these which are internalised over time, good authority will make us morally good with a sense of wellbeing but a bad authority like nazis will make feelings of obedience and punishment override others.
Fromms humanstic conscience
A humans own real self, not influenced by anything apart from who each human is, need to listen to real self as this is the higher form of conscience and will cause disobedience to a bad authority
Reasons why conscience stems from reason
- theologian idea that explains why moral views differ over time and from person to person
- reason is developed better over time by reflecting on ones past actions which creates a better conscience
- Is the innate ability of humans that separates them from animals
reasons why conscience stems from the unconscious mind
- Conscience is an instinctive reaction to authority which explains some illogical actions
- explains why moral ideas differ person to person as it is unconscious through upbringing
- Conscience feelings are immediate and guilty not reflective
What is the biblical support for why conscience is an innate ability
Apostle Paul is questioned how non jews who didn’t know Old Testament law would be able to know right and wrong, he states that their cosnince would tell them as it is like gods law written on their hearts
How does cardinal Newman use psychology to show why conscience is gods voice
All conscience feelings outlined by Freud imply a higher judge who can punish, this is god and this is why the cosncience is his voice as if we disobey we feel guilt as punishment
What is Dawkins view of conscience
Humans are the sum of their total DNA , various abilities and traits are genetic, so there may be a genetic explanation for morality as those who are more genetically prone to acting altruistically. those who act more in this way are more likely to survive so explains why humans have become more moral over time
What is Piagets view on conscience
Moral view begin as ‘heteronomous’ which is before the age of 10 when humans morals are determined by authoritative figures and the punishment, whereas after the age of 10 humans become ‘autonomous’ as they become less dependent on authority and develop their own rules
What do arguments in favour of conscience as a real thing rely on too much
Existence of a god
What is the alternative for cosncience being a real thing
It is an umbrella term for other factors like genetics, culture, environment, human construct
Where does Butler believe conscience is from
It is god given intuitive ability that separates humans from animals so should be obeyed
How does Butler believe the conscience works
It ‘magisterially asserts itself’ an automatic process that decides right and wrong moral actions.
What does Butler argue are the drawbacks of conscience
Conscience can be mistaken as one can be blind to their own conscience, but this is a wicked sin as it is effectively disobeying god.
Consequences also don’t determine whether an action is right or wrong
What is Butlers principle of reflection
Given to us by god so supreme authority makes us disapprove or approve of our actions
What is Jospeh Fletchers view of Conscience
It is a verb, something we do, it is in the moment decision making it isnt reflective, it is intensive for the future and focused on love
What is Augustines view of conscience
Gods voice
