Conscience A02 and Essay Plans

Question 1

Strengths of Aquinas’ view on conscience

Answer 1

• Aquinas’ view of the conscience is rational rather than intuitive, requiring reason rather than sole relying on ‘gut instinct.
• It explains that conscience can be mistaken and that we can make moral mistakes.
• Explains how we come to change our minds on moral decisions- our conscience can be developed through education.
• Explains moral disagreement.

Question 2

Weaknesses of Aquinas’ view of conscience

Answer 2

• View does not fit with out experience of conscience feelings-conscience does feel more intuitive and emotional in it’s promptings.
• Aquinas does not prioritise divine revelation; many Christians believe God communicates directly.
• Doesn’t take into account the social and the environmental factors that inevitably affect our moral views- Freud seems right to suggest that these are a factor

Question 3

Strengths of Freud’s view of conscience

Answer 3

• Freud helpfully begins with our psychological experience of guilt and attempts to provide an explanation- better starting point that Aquins who bypasses how we initially experience conscience.
• Freud sees his explanation of conscience and the discipline of psychology as scientific, attempting to ground the explanation in empirical facts.
• Some support for theories as Freud which shows conscience is not a real thing but an umbrella term for various factors. (Dawkins, evolutionary account of conscience arising on basis co-operation and treating others well would be a desirable trait.
• other psychologists such as Piaget, do link morality and conscience with childhood development.

Question 4

Weaknesses of Freud’s view of conscience

Answer 4

• atheistic and assumes natural explanation for the phenomenon of guilt, however it is possible that guilt could arise from a God given instinct.
• Freud’s view on morality which links our moral values to our upbringing would surely reveal more differences in moral values than there are- moral values shared regardless of culture and upbringing.
• Freud’s research, although empirical, has limited support in some extent, such as the Oedipus complex were based on a handful of case studies.
• Freud’s work with the unconscious cannot be falsified- Karl Popper would criticise this and say that Freud’s psychoanalysis isn’t really science at all.
• possible to agree that Freud explains conscious in some individuals but for others conscience functions in a better/higher way

Question 5

Conscience is innate to humans

Answer 5

• examples of whistleblowing, not a social construct, opposing established views of society/parents- children varying religious/ political opinions to parent.
• Erich Fromm, ‘conscientious objector’, speaking out against injustice, humanistic conscience, acting with integrity.
• Aquinas and synderisis principle
• St Paul ‘law of God is written on their hearts’
• Cardinal Henry Newman conscience as Gods voice.
• Catechism 177: ‘present at the heart of the person’

Question 6

Conscience is influenced by society/not innate

Answer 6

• Freud, conscience is a social construct- ego v superego/misplaced guilt.
• Erich Fromm, authoritarian conscience is the internalised voice of external authority.
• Dawkins- Religious indoctrination leads to a false understanding of morality/Dawkins, evolution given us a genetic predisposition toward altruism.
• John Webster, individual conscience formed after scripture, reason and prayer.
• Bulger Case

Question 7

Conscience is connected to reason

Answer 7

• Aquinas, at the principle of ration, all made in God’s image, need to use our reason or conscience when making moral decisions.
• May be called to use conscience in ethical dilemmas when there may not be an obvious answer, e.g. apply DoDE.
• Catechism 1778 ‘conscience is a judgement of reason whereby the human person recognises the moral quantity of a concrete act’.

Question 8

Conscience is not connected to reason

Answer 8

• Synderisis, inclination toward goodness is instinctive and therefore not connected to reason.
• Misinformed conscience- MLK, nothing more dangerous than sincere ignorance.
• Conscience and blind obedience simply adheres to expectations of society/authority-Freud.
• does everyone have the same capacity to reason- if not does this mean that they don’t have a conscience/ are amoral.