Conscience- Aquinas

Question 1

Aquinas’ definition of conscience

Answer 1

• Conscience is the mind of man making moral judgements and we combine this with our own reason; “bears witness”
• what is innate is the God-given faculty of reason aided by synderesis which allows you to discern what is right and wrong

Question 2

Define synderesis

Answer 2

it is an inbuilt faculty that enables you to exercise your conscience whilst also discerning what is right and wrong
“ synderesis is a characteristic disposition rather than power”

Question 3

Define conscientia

Answer 3

it is the actual ethical judgement or decision a person has made

Question 4

Strengths

Answer 4

• takes into account human reason and how we have different capabilities to do different things
• more optimistic outlook on humans than Augustine

Question 5

Criticisms

Answer 5

• could argue that as synderesis doesn’t necessarily lead to conscientia they are disconnected => undermining his system
  CP: Aquinas doesn’t offer a system but an observation of the ‘Treatise of Man’
• fallibility of reason
  CP: conscience is fallible and allows us to make mistakes because it is rational and because as humans we are flawed