Conscience - Aquinas and Freud Pt 2

Question 1

What is the main issue with most of Freuds theories?

Answer 1

• They lack any sort of empirical evidence to back them up
• No evidence for the Oedipus Complex or the Primal Horde

Question 2

What did Karl Popper argue against Freuds theories for?

Answer 2

• Argued that the theories Freud presented was not falsifiable
• The theory could not be tested scientifically nor disputed on scientific grounds
• This makes the theories no better than mere claims

Question 3

Are Freuds theories sexist?

Answer 3

• They are extremely male oriented
• In the Primal Horde treated women as passive agents to male dominance
• The argument provided for the Electra complex is less put together than the Oedipus Complex

Question 4

What is the main difference with what Aquinas and Freud are dealing with?

Answer 4

• Aquinas is linking the conscience to the rational mind, it is not a feeling nor is he dealign with the origins of guilt
• Freud on the other hand is dealing with the social and psychological construct, he is concerned with the conscious and unconscious and the origins of guilt

Question 5

What are some similarities between Aquinas’ and Freuds’ view on guilt?

Answer 5

• Freud says the conscience can be ignored and guilt, neurosis, anxiety and phobias are a result of internalising rewards/punishments of social customs
• Aquinas shares a similar view that even if the conscience is wrong, disobeying or ignoring its voice will lead to guilt

Question 6

What are differences between Aquinas’ and Freuds view on guilt?

Answer 6

• Freud believes that conscience is the term used to describe the interaction of the Id, Ego and Super ego and is the ‘guilt complex’
• Aquinas believes the conscience is not a guilt source but the exercising of reason and moral judgement
• Freud believes guilt stems form the Oedipus complex and can control human instinct for aggression and sex, this is not rational
• Aquinas believed guilt ultimately stems from ignoring synderesis and conscientia

Question 7

What are differences between Aquinas and Freud’s beliefs about God?

Answer 7

• Freud believes sin is just a repression of human primal instinct going against societal standards
• Aquinas believes God has given us reason and an understanding of morality to allow us to act morally
• Freud believes that religion is a form of animism which helps control the chaotic experience of the world
• Aquinas believes Gods grace perfects nature and therefore makes God necessary

Question 8

What are similarities between Aquinas and Freud on their belief about reason?

Answer 8

• Freud followed Hume in asserting that reason is a slave to the passions
• Aquinas too believed that human reason is impaired by the Fall and sinful desires can pull us away from real goods to apparent goods
• Through analysis of the unconscious mind Freud confirmed that the ego mediates between the id and superego
• Aquinas believed that we must train ourselves in virtue but we have been gifted with a rational mind to help us

Question 9

What are differences between Aquinas and Freud on their belief about reason?

Answer 9

• Freud believed that motivation was derived through emotion not reason
• Aquinas believed that we have an innate sense of morality through reason and we are drawn to self-actualisation motivated by nature and God

Question 10

What was psychologist Fromm’s view on the Conscience when he was in the Third Reich?

Answer 10

• Believed in the authoritarian conscience, this derived from displeasing authority, leading to guilt and greater submission of authority
• The conscience could rule us because it came form an authority figure
• Disobedience would lead to guilt and greater submission in the future

Question 11

What was psychologist Fromm’s view on the conscience when he was in America?

Answer 11

• A Humanitarian origin of the conscience where it stems from our ability to judge and evaluate our behaviour ourselves
• The conscience should not have authority over us as it can lead to good and bad actions
• If we disobey we will not reach self actualisation

Question 12

What was psychologist Piagets view on the conscience?

Answer 12

• We do not develop abstract thinking until 11, we have ‘heteronymous morality’ before instructed by others and then we develop ‘autonomous’ which is governmened by ourselves

Question 13

What are ‘conscientious objectors’ and why do they provide an objection to Freud?

Answer 13

• Conscientious objectors are people during wars who do not fight on the grounds that it is immoral
• Freud does not deal with this traditional definition of the conscience and instead focuses on the guilt complex, not the moral side
• Aquinas does focus on the moral side and can therefore be deemed more useful