Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Ethics 7 > Conscience > Flashcards

Conscience Flashcards

1
Q

Define ‘ratio’

A

The term used by Aquinas to describe reason which is placed in every person as a result of imago dei

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define ‘synderesis’

A

A term by Aquinas which means to pursue good and avoid evil and the rule which all precepts must follow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define ‘Id’

A

For Freud, this is the part of the mind that has instinctive impulses that seek satisfaction in pleasure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Define ‘super-ego’

A

Freud uses this term to describe part of the mind which contradicts the id and uses internalised ideals from parents and society to make the ego behave morally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define ‘ego’

A

Freud uses this term to describe the mediation between the id and the superego

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Define ‘conscientia’

A

The name given by Aquinas to the process whereby a person makes moral judgements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Define ‘vincible ignorance’

A

How Aquinas describes a lack of knowledge for which a person is responsible and can be blamed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define ‘invincible ignorance’

A

How Aquinas describes a lack of knowledge for which a person cannot be held responsible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Quote Romans 7:19

A

“For I do not do the good I want to do but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What did St. Jerome believe was the ‘spark of conscience’?

A

The power to distinguish between good and evil so does it matter if we do not follow our conscience? E.g. Quakers refused to fight in the war. Conscience can be disruptive but also a compelling dimension of human experience linked to moral integrity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How did Aquinas’ ideas of the conscience differ?

A

Common belief was that conscience is a special part of our mind that tells us right from wrong, he thought to understand conscience you have to understand reason

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How did Aquinas believe that humans are distinguished from animals?

A

Imagination, morals and intellectual ability to create ideas, pictures, music and machines, sophistication and skill

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How did Augustine’s views differ from Aquinas?

A

Augustine thought that reason, intellect and mine were all one power in humans but Aquinas distinguishes ratio separately as the distinguishing feature from animals as a divine gift from God

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is ratio different from comprehension?

A

Ratio is progressive and has some sort of direction linked to judgement as working things out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Aquinas was inspired by (1) which suggests that we can move from the knowledge of (2) to knowledge of (3) Ratio connects us to (4) and the divine

A

1 - Paul’s letter to the Romans
2 - this world
3 - the eternal world
4 - the eternal realm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How does ratio relate to morality?

A
  • Morality is not simply doing what is right or wrong
  • Hannah Arendt: when the norms of society become profoundly immoral you must reject them
  • Ratio reaches beyond what is socially acceptable to a higher morality
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does Aquinas believe sensuality was?

A

It is something in us that tempts us towards evil which is what was in the Garden of Eden which is present alongside synderesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Why was Aquinas optimistic about the presence of both synderesis and sensuality despite possible conflict?

A

He had a positive view of people and their capability to move towards good and away from evil, synderesis is a habit or learning not a power that people can use ratio to cultivate the habit of synderesis

19
Q

What did Aquinas believe conscientia was?

A

An act within a human person (a pronouncement of the mind) arising when knowledge gained from the application of ratio to synderesis is applied to something we do. Conscience is reason making right decisions

20
Q

Aquinas is clear that conscience is (1) even when it (2) so to go against reason is (3), Paul says (4)

A

1 - binding
2 - mistaken
3 - always wrong
4 - “Everything that does not come from faith is sin”

21
Q

For Aquinas coming from (1) means coming from conscience which means coming from (2) which makes Aquinas sound like a (3) but he is not saying (4)

A

1 - faith
2 - application of ratio
3 - relativist
4 - whatever you feel good is in fact good

22
Q

Aquinas is not relativist when talking about the application of ratio so how is he absolutist?

A

Human beings should do what they think is right and they can determine this using ratio, people make mistakes because ratio acknowledges knowledge and knowledge can be incomplete

23
Q

“Conscience is the aboriginal (1)… I shall drink… to the (2) first and to the (3) afterwards” - (4)

A

1 - Vicar of Christ
2 - Conscience
3 - Pope
4 - Cardinal John Henry Newman

24
Q

Why was Cardinal Newman suggesting he should drink to the conscience as a higher status than the Pope?

A

Not out of disrespect but because conscience is more important than anything else, you should not surrender your moral duty to anyone else, you cannot evade your duty by pleading happiness to do so

25
Q

Describe ‘conscientia in operation’

A

Practising good (synderesis) then reason (ratio) will help you act and if you gather knowledge to help you then your actions can be blameworthy (invincible ignorance) even if your knowledge is incomplete

26
Q

Aquinas’ theological approach to conscience is (1) and challenges the (2) telling us what to do. Instead (3) are the essential components of moral decision making

A

1 - provocative
2 - intuitive moral voice
3 - ratio, synderesis and conscientia

27
Q

Why is Aquinas’ approach criticised?

A

Fails to take into account the social, political, environmental and economic pressures that affect moral decision making as well as the feelings of shame and guilt being a misplaced sense of duty are just some influencing factors

28
Q

Name two of Freud’s books

A

‘An outline of Psychoanalysis’ 1940

‘The Ego and the Id’ 1923

29
Q

What does Freud believe conscience is based on?

A

Conscience is not based on rational decision making, it is a product of psychological factors that influence human beings in ways that may or may not be healthy

30
Q

Describe Freud’s theory of psychosexual development

A

Psychological development takes place takes place in a series of fixed stages and each stage is associated with a part of libido

31
Q

Describe each stage of Freud’s psychosexual development

A

0-1 years (oral) concerned with sucking and swallowing
1-3 (anal) withholding and expelling
3-6 (phallic) concerned with masturbation
6-puberty (latency) absence of sexual motivation
puberty-adulthood (genital) sexual intercourse

32
Q

Why is Freud’s theory controversial?

A

Freud thought that frustration in women was linked to penis envy and boys suffered from a fear of castration and deep desires to replace their father so they could have exclusive possession of the mother (Oedipus complex)

33
Q

Why has Freud’s theory been rejected?

A

Lack of evidence however he raised the idea that there is an inner unconscious that interacts with our conscious awareness of our actions

34
Q

What did Freud believe the human mind was made up of?

A

Unconscious mind: repressed thoughts and feelings
Preconscious mind: memories not readily available but accessible
Conscious mind: thoughts not accessible to the unconscious mind

35
Q

Describe the id

A
  • Entirely unconscious aspect of personality present from birth
  • Central component, powerful and instinctive
  • Driven by pleasure principle seeking immediate gratification which results in anxiety and tension if not satisfied
36
Q

What does Freud believe drives the id?

A

The libido for desire for sexual gratification, Freud uses frustration as an umbrella term including hunger, toilet needs and sexual desire

37
Q

Describe the Ego

A
  • It is not socially acceptable to seek immediate gratification for all our desires, if we did we would be lustful and greedy
  • People learn to develop tactics to satisfy their desires in socially acceptable ways
38
Q

What is the ego driven by?

A

The reality principle, the ego reconciles the id which otherwise drives the pleasure principle, delayed gratification is one strategy used by the ego to manage the tensions caused when the id’s desires are not immediately satisfied

39
Q

What does Freud believe a good conscience is?

A

The effective operation of the ego over the id where desires are achieved in such a way as to avoid censure and punishment

40
Q

Describe the super-ego

A

The last part of the psych to develop (approx. 5 years)
Internalised moral standards of right and wrong
Early messages from authority figures establish a set of rules

41
Q

What is the result of greater power of the super-ego?

A

The greater the extent to which the superego dominates over the ego, the greater the extent to which a person avoids actions that would result in breaking the rules to please external authority which interrupts the balance of the id and the ego

42
Q

What does Freud believe conscience is?

A

Religious and moral feelings and conscience are related to the superego, we feel guilty because of the superego which may have nothing to do with right and wrong and everything to do with the interplay of the id, ego and superego

43
Q

How have more modern psychologists developed Freud’s theory?

A

Specific reference to conscience which has a mature and immature dimension, the mature dimension is healthy identified as the ego’s search for integrity concerned with right and wrong

44
Q

Describe the immature dimension of the conscience by modern theorists interpreting Freud

A

Mass of guilty feelings as their superego develops which has little to do with rational importance of the action causing someone to feel guilty

Ethics 7 (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions