Conscience Flashcards
What is conscience?
A person’s moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one’s behaviour.
Augustine theological approach
Augustine believed the conscience is the voice of God speaking to us – we are able to sense right and wrong as God reveals it to us directly (conscience is the direct voice of God). The conscience is therefore a tool to help humans obey and understand God’s law.
Augustine theological approach 2
for Augustine conscience is the highest moral authority in decision making, e.g. above the church, as it is innate and a direct link to God but God’s grace is still needed to save us.
Augustine quote
“In everything you do, see God as your witness”
Augustine theological approach 3
His three main ideas about conscience were:
God implants knowledge of right conduct in humans which is known through our conscience
A person cannot rightly act without the Grace of God.
The motive for an action has to be right as these were praiseworthy moral acts.
Aquinas theological approach
Morality is not defined just by society or culture, but by God (a high and divine morality) and The conscience has to be linked to ratio (reason) – conscience is a special part of our mind, which only humans have. For Aquinas, following conscience is an act of faith and so it must always be followed -
Ratio
Distinguishes humans from other animals
Is a divine gift from God
“God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them” (Genesis 1:27)
A progressive and direct link to judgement
Beyond what is deemed as moral socially/culturally
Connects us to the eternal realm/the divine
Synderesis
Principle within each person
Keeps us away from evil and directs us towards good
Sensuality is also present in each person – tempts us towards evil (e.g. Adam and Eve)
Positive view: synderesis usually overcomes sensuality as it is a habit of learning rather than a power
Ratio is used to cultivate the habit of synderesis
Conscientia
act within a person arising when knowledge gained from ratio and synderesis is applied to an action
- “Reason making right decisions”, not an inner voice giving commands
- Reasoning is a movement from things naturally known (Natural Law) > intellectual activity and judgement based on these principles
aquinas quote
Conscience is not a power, but an act… For conscience is said to witness, to bind, to incite, and also to accuse, torment, or rebuke
more on aquinas
aquinas argues we must always follow our conscience, he does not argue the conscience is always right. Mistakes can be made, either intentionally or accidentally
invincible ignorance
Lack of knowledge for which a person is not responsible; When a person acts to the best of their knowledge, having done all they can to reasonably inform themselves, but nevertheless gets it wrong and does not act in accordance with what is right and good. Aquinas does not believe that God will condemn humans for invincible ignorance. If they fear God and live according to their conscience, God will give them salvation.
vincible ignorance
Lack of knowledge for which a person is responsible; Not an excuse and a person who demonstrates it is morally culpable for the acts carried out as a result. They cannot claim that ‘conscience’ justifies their action.
Newman
we know some things through our illative sense rather than reason or logic. It is this which gives feelings of guilt and responsibility, rather than reason (like Aquinas argued).
The illative sense is more personal than reason, and a direct guide to God. The illative sense enables us to accept the demands of the conscience.
more on Newman
The conscience is the “Voice of the Lawgiver” and is a messenger from God. Following the conscience is therefore following the voice of God.
freud background
Developed the theory that boys have deep desires to replace their fathers so they could have exclusive possession of their mother (Oedipus complex). Females have a similar process called the Electra complex which focuses on the father
Proposed an alternative psychological approach to the conscience - Believed the conscience is psychologically created in order to stop ourselves from carrying out our basic desires which might be socially unacceptable. If we disobey our conscience we feel guilty.
freud on what conscience is
Conscience is not based on rational decision-making but is instead a product of psychological factors which influence humans in ways that could be healthy or unhealthy.
Unconscious mind:
the repressed thoughts and feelings and it is where our desires are.
Preconscious mind:
the memories not readily available but accessible
Conscious mind
the thoughts a person currently has which the unconscious mind cannot access.
Ego
Mediates between the id and the demands of social interaction
The ego aims to satisfy the id in a way which appeals to the social norms as dictated by the super ego .. a good conscience is the effective operation of the ego over the id - desires are achieved in a way which avoids punishment or judgement from social authorities
Id
nstinctive impulses that seek satisfaction in pleasure
The id is an entirely unconscious aspect of personality that is present from birth.
It is the central component of personality and it is powerful, instinctive and primitive.
It is the place in our minds that deals with passions and desires.
It is driven by the desire to seek immediate gratification.
superego
Contradicts the id. Working on internalised ideals from parents and society, it tries to make the ego behave morally
Fromm
a significant critic of Freud. He respected Freud’s work, but claimed it was too misogynistic and limited. He believed each human has two consciences, which one is stronger depends on the individual and their personality
Authoritarian conscience:
Begins with fear of authority and these feelings being internalised so our inner voice echoes such authority. We then obey and fear the authority even when it is absent. This provides a sense of wellbeing and security, as we trust authority to look after us. Disobedience to this makes us feel guilty, weakening our power and making us submissive to authorities. In a bad authoritarian conscience, obedience and fear become more important than any other feelings, e.g. Nazis and the actions of the Holocaust.
Humanitarian conscience:
Our inner voice reacting to how well we are functioning in life. Our own reaction to our own behaviour. This is a higher, more developed conscience which is unfortunately drowned out for many by the authoritarian conscience.
