Conscience

Question 1

Aquinas’ theological approach to the conscience

Answer 1

• Did not think that the conscience was an independent special faculty or power capable of telling people what is right and wrong
• Thought reason us what separates us from other animals
• Believed reason is a gift from God
• ## Within each person there is a principle called synderesis which encourages us to do good

Question 2

Aquinas and ignorance

Answer 2

Two kinds

Vincible
- lack of knowledge which is the reason the person could have done something about

Invincible
- Sometimes people act in good faith and follow their consciences but they get things wrong because of ignorance of facts

Question 3

Criticisms of Aquinas

Answer 3

• does not take into account the extent to which our moral reasoning is influenced by our upbringing
• Some disagree that the conscience is the human mind making moral decisions, it comes from God (Augustine, Joseph Butler)

Question 4

Freud

Answer 4

• believed it is not rational decision-making but comes from an inner unconscious part of our minds shaped by our upbringing
• ## minds have several layers

Question 5

Freud - three aspects of human personality

Answer 5

the ego

• manages and guides the id
• learns from parents and society

the id

• powerful part of our personalities from birth
• leads us to seek pleasure

the super ego
- where mind stores moral teaching and social rules received during upbringing

Question 6

Erich Fromm

Answer 6

• developed Freud

- immature and mature conscience

Question 7

Criticisms of Freud

Answer 7

• does not consider possibility of there being any relation between the conscience and God
• Puts too great an emphasis on human sexuality as underpinning every aspect of psychology

Question 8

Comparing

Answer 8

Aquinas
- sees conscience as the activity of a God given reason

Freud
- does not include God

Aquinas
- sees wrongdoing as sin

Freid
- does not have an idea of right and wrong as absolute values