Conscience Flashcards
** introduction**
What is conscience and why do some argue it’s the voice of god
Conscience is often understood as an internal moral guide that helps individuals discern right from wrong. Some argue that conscience is the “voice of God,” offering divine guidance, while others see it as a psychological or social construct. This evaluation will explore views supporting and challenging the claim, considering theological, psychological, and ethical perspectives.
Arguments Supporting the Claim the conscience is the voice of GOD
Augustine
State a strength of this argument
Augustine believed the conscience is an innate factuality ( reality) given by God to help humans find out His will.
It reflects divine law and aligns with the human soul’s ultimate purpose to seek God.
Strength: This view emphasises moral objectivity, grounding ethics in a divine source.
Arguments Supporting the Claim the conscience is the voice of GOD
St Thomas Aquinas
State a strength and weakness
Conscience involves synderesis (innate knowledge of moral principles) and practical reasoning (conscientia). Aquinas believed that conscience is rooted in divine law but not directly the voice of God. Errors can occur when reasoning is faulty
Strength: compatible with the idea of a perfect god
Link : If conscience is the “voice of God,” it strengthens the link between revealed and natural theology, suggesting humans have an innate capacity for divine moral understanding (Romans 2:14-15: “the law is written on their hearts”)
This view resonates with the teleological framework of Aquinas and the divine authority expressed in religious traditions.
Aquinas argues that the conscience is shaped by reasoning and can be wrong, suggesting it is not a direct voice of God but rather influenced by human understanding of divine law. This weakens the idea of conscience as purely divine.
Arguments Supporting the Claim the conscience is the voice of GOD
John Henry Newman
State a strength and weakness
Newman described conscience as the “aboriginal Vicar of Christ,” aligning it closely with divine authority. He viewed conscience as a direct link to God, revealing moral truths.
Newman described the conscience as the “voice of God in the soul,” emphasising its personal and authoritative nature.
He argued that conscience holds humans accountable to God and reflects divine judgment.
Strength: Believing that the conscience is divine encourages moral responsibility and provides a solid basis for ethical behavior. Newman’s view, for instance, makes people accountable not only to themselves but to God.
Weakness: If conscience is truly infallible as the “voice of God,” why do people commit immoral acts believing them to be right? This undermines the claim or suggests that conscience must be interpreted, introducing human error.
Arguments against the Claim the conscience is the voice of GOD
Freud
Freud saw conscience as part of the superego, formed through socialisation and internalisation of parental and societal norms.
Sigmund Freud: Conscience arises from the superego, a construct of societal norms internalised during childhood. It is not divine but a psychological phenomenon shaped by upbringing and culture.
Conscience is psychological, not divine, and varies across cultures and individuals.
Challenge: This undermines the universality and divine origin of conscience. A weakness of Freud’s perspective is its reductionist nature, ignoring any spiritual or metaphysical dimensions of moral experience.
Counterpoint: Could God work through psychological processes? The divine influence might manifest in the structure of human psychology rather than direct revelation.
Arguments against the Claim the conscience is the voice of GOD
Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg
Developmental theories suggest conscience evolves through social and cognitive development, reflecting moral reasoning rather than divine intervention
Arguments against: Philosophical Perspectives
Philosophical Perspectives
Friedrich Nietzsche: Criticized the religious interpretation of conscience, arguing it is a product of guilt imposed by societal and religious pressures.
Immanuel Kant: Conscience is a rational process, tied to the categorical imperative and human autonomy rather than divine will.
Synthesis and Evaluation
Aquinas
Aquinas’ integration of reason and divine law provides a balanced view, allowing for both individual responsibility and divine guidance. However, this still assumes the existence of God, which is contested in secular worldviews.
Synthesis and Evaluation
Freud
Freud and other secular theorists provide robust alternative explanations but fail to account for the deeply personal and transcendent aspects of moral experience that believers might associate with divine influence.
synthesis evaluation
The theological view of conscience as the “voice of God” offers a compelling explanation for universal moral principles and the sense of accountability. However, it faces challenges from psychological and sociocultural perspectives that suggest conscience is subjective and contingent
Kant and autonomy
Kant and Autonomy
Kant argued that conscience is rooted in human autonomy and reason, not divine will. His categorical imperative provides a framework for universal morality without needing divine input.
Challenge:
Kant’s view might struggle to inspire moral obligation beyond reason. Religious perspectives argue that the authority of God provides stronger motivation for moral action than abstract rationality.
Nietzsche’s Critique
Nietzsche sees conscience as a manifestation of guilt imposed by religious institutions. This view critiques the claim as a tool for control rather than genuine divine communication.
Evaluation:
Nietzsche’s analysis offers a critical perspective on how religious narratives shape moral consciousness but can be accused of reducing the spiritual and moral dimensions of conscience to mere power dynamics.
