conscience as God- given faculty of reason(religious) Flashcards
Aquinas
1
Q
Aquinas & conscience
A
- it is a god-given faculty of reason
- expressed through teaching in NML
- is the rational part of human agents and natural disposition of human mind that we apprehend without inquiry (do good avoid evil)
good should govern all human reasoning and avoid evil - Synderesis rule is do good avoid evil
2
Q
Aquinas argues what is innate for humans isn’t the voice of God telling them what to do but the God-given faculty of reason
A
- practical reason arrives at & understands primary precepts of nml. Conscience then applies these through secondary precepts to particular situations and becomes activated fully by realising that what the individual is about to do is good or evil
3
Q
conscience is fallible (can make mistakes)
A
- 2 reasons may make wrong decision: if ignorant of moral law that should be applied then Aquinas argues person is guilty of sin as should know law AND if not informed on facts
- example of second case: see pile of newspapers assumes they’re free and conscience will allow you to take one but if they were for sale conscience made mistakes by letting you take 1
- in second case, Aquinas argues person isn’t responsible so the ‘theft’ is not a sin
4
Q
conscience should always be followed
A
- where one acts that’s really in accordance with one’s conscience even if it’s in error & act leads to terrible misdeeds
- truth comes from God so to go against your conscience is going against God
5
Q
strengths
A
- realistic in view that conscience is not infallible - can go astray by following apparent goods rather than real goods
- emphasis on use of reason as allows us to make a freely chosen moral decision which to many is essence of being a moral being
6
Q
limits
A
- ignores fact large number of people act irrationally, not just because they’re blinded by own desires but also as their reasoning powers are limited
- thinks all are aware of synderesis rule but if look at world today many follow self interest
