Ethics-Conscience Flashcards
Conscience Aquinas quote
“The mind of man making moral judgements”
Conscience Ratio-Aquinas
Our ABILITY to Reason and MAKE MORALD JUDGMENTS- GIFTED by God due to BEING MADE IN HIS IMAGE(IMAGO DEI)
DISTINGUISHES us from ANIMALS
Two Parts Conscience is made from According to Aquinas
Synderesis
Conscienta
Two Parts Conscience is made from According to Aquinas -Synderesis
Inner PRINCIPLE directing a person towards GOOD or EVIL- GUIDED by RATIO
IT is the PROCESS OF CONSCIENCE -where a Person LEANS towards GOODNESS and away from GUILTY PLEASURES
Aquinas belives SYNDERESIS Leans people TOWARDS GOODNESS more than EVIL
Two Parts Conscience is made from According to Aquinas -Conscienta
Conscience in ACTION
PRACTICAL OUTWORKING OF SYNDERESIS
A Person’s REASON making Moral Judgement
E.g -choosing not Kill as you feel it is wrong
Conscience General Understanding
a gut feeling or a voice inside of us telling us what to do.
Aquinas view on Conscience and Ignorance (Lack of knowledge)
Aquinas acknowledged that CONSCIENCE can be Mistaken ( making wrong descions despite following conscience)
He argued this is caused by INCORRECT KNOWLEDGE / IGNORANCE
Aquinas Two Types of Ignorance
Vincible Ignorance
Invincible Ignorance
Aquinas Two Types of Ignorance -Vincible Ignorance
Lack of Knowledge for which a person CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE For
(You should have KNOWN BETTER)
E.G -Euthanising someone in UK despite it being illegal (you should know better)
God is Right to CONDEMN these acts
Aquinas Two Types of Ignorance -Invincible Ignorance
Lack of Knowledge which a person is NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR
Person Acts in the Best of Their of KNOWLEDGE with Reasonably Informed information
But makes a mistake
Aquinas believed God would not Condemn these acts
E.G a person gives someone MEDICINE they are ALLERGIC TOO without realising they are ALLERGIC
Vincible Ignorance-Sex Scandal Example Aquinas
If a Man sleeps with Woman who is NOT his Wife - This will be Evil based on IGNORANCE of Divine Law -He Ought to Know better
InVincible Ignorance-Sex Scandal Example Aquinas
However of the Man REALLY THOUGHT the Woman was Really his WIFE and she wanted Him-he is FREE FROM FAULT
Extra -Scholar John Newman God Speaking Conscience
Believed that Conscience was AN IMMEDIATE INNER VOICE rather than your own REASON
The voice is GOD SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO US -it is AUTHORITATIVE and we ought to OBEY it
When we disobey it we feel GUILTY/SHAME
Freud’s view of Aquinas Conscience
Rejects God and Soul;therefore disagrees heavily with Aquinas
Freud’s view on the mind
Saw it as a Machine
Every person mind goes through 5 PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES
5 PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES According to Freud
Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latency
Genital
5 PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES According to Freud-Oral
All PLEASURE focused on MOUTH (AGES 0-1)
E.G Teething chewing
5 PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES According to Freud-Anal
All PLEASURE focussed on BOWEL MOVEMENTS (Ages 1-3)
5 PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES According to Freud Phallic-Oedipus Complex/Electra
Idea all Boys are SEXUALLY IN Love with their MOTHERS (Ages 3-5)
however they are AFRAID OF THE FATHER (cuz he loves his mummy/wife)
He eventually begins to MIRROR his FATHER Behaviour UNCONSCIOUSLY to GAIN MOTHERS LOVE (SEXY TIME)
Eventually this FADES AWAY(Intrinsic to SUPEREGO DEVELOPMENT)
5 PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES According to Freud-Latency
Regular Puberty occurs 3-6
5 PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES According to Freud Genital
All pleasure FOCUSED on GENITALS (Ages puberty to Maturity)
Three aspects of Personality for FREUD
ID
EGO
SUPEREGO
Three aspects of Personality for FREUD-ID
Entire UNCONSCIOUS part of The MIND
Our INSTINCTIVE IMPULSES that seek IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION/PLEASURE
-‘I WANT I WANT I WANT’ -Veruca Salt
Three aspects of Personality for FREUD-EGO
CONSCIOUS SELF
MEDIATES between your ID and DEMANDS of SOCIAL INTERACTION(what is socially acceptable)
CONTROLS the ID
E,g a Horse (ID) Rider (EGO)
Three aspects of Personality for FREUD- SUPEREGO
PRECONSCIOUS Self
Our INTERNALISED Ideals from PARENTS/SOCIETY
allows the EGO to BEHAVE MORALLY
PREVENTS us from breaking rules-due to FEAR OF PUNISHMENT and GUILT
Freud view on PERSONALITY LINK to Conscience
Freud argued that OUR CONSCIENCE was not our ABILITY TO JUDGE THE MORAL thing to do
BUT RATHER
Simply we are FEELING GUILTY Because of our SUPEREGO
Conscience is BUILT on the GUILT OF DISAPPOINTING SOCIETY/PARENTS
Strengths of Freud’s Conscience
Fundamental in DEVELOPMENT of Dreams, mind and CONSCIOUS, SUB-CONSCIOUS
CLEAR Evidence to PARENTS/SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT Affecting MORALS
Conveys why MORALS are Different due to VARYING CULTURES/SOCIETY/INFLUENCE of PARENTS
Based on Empirical evidence of PSYCHOLOGY rather than THEOLOGY;Scientific reason
Weaknesses of Freud’s Conscience-Similar Moral Values
Freud’s view on MORALITY links our MORALS to UPBRINGING-arguably
There should be more DIFFERENCES in Moral Values than there are
-essentially MORAL VALUES are largely SHARED regardless of Culture/UPBRINGING
Weaknesses of Freud’s Conscience- Karl Popper Extra Scholar
Argued Freud’s PSYCHOANALYSIS cannot be FALSIFIED (proven RIGHT OR WRONG)
Not true Science
Arguably his LITTLE HANS experiments - UNETHICAL
Weaknesses of Freud’s Conscience-non-Traditional Families
What abhor children from Single Parent Households?
Freud’s theory disregards them -IMPLIES they are IMMORAL/ILLOGICAL
E.g-HOMOSEXUAL HOUSEHOLDS conflicts with OEDIPUS/ELECTRA COMPLEX
Weaknesses of Freud’s Conscience-Parents Immoral/Age later years
If Parents are IMMORAL implies LITTLE FREEWILL over MORALS if
Morals are INBUILT by Parents
Freud’s Psychosexual Development Ignores LATER LIFE EXPERIENCES (0-5) can not be when CONSCIENCE FULLY DEVELOPS
Freud’s on Guilt /Superego
Guilt is the INTERNAL CONFLICT in the mind Between WHat you DESIRE and WHAT YOU FEEL you SHOULD AND SHOULDN’T DO
Guilt can lead to IMMORAL ACT/FUTURE WRONGDOINGS
Theological Extra Scholar Views-Joseph Butler
Similar to Aquinas tells us Right from Wrong
Essential part of BEING HUMAN
Separates from Animals
Directs us towards FOCUSING on HAPPINESS of OTHERS instead of Ourselves
Secular Views Extra Scholars-PIAGET
Support Freud with his Morality and Child Development
Believed Two Types of Morality- HETERONOMOUS/AUTONOMOUS
HETERONOMOUS - 5-9 Child looks beyond SELF for MORAL AUTHORITY must be OBEYED OR PUNISHMENT NEEDED -Relationships based on SOCIAL CONTROL
Autonomous Morality (10+) - PERSONAL CODE OF CONDUCT Develops -able to decide what is Morally Right-based on SOCIAL PERCEPTION and Punishments
Relationships become more OPEN AND HARMONIOUS
Secular Views Extra Scholars-PIAGET refuted by Kohlberg
Kohlberg claimed Piaget theories TOO SIMPLISTIC
BELIEVED there were a GREATER NUMBER of STAGES in a Person’s MORAL JOURNEY
Secular Views Extra Scholars-Eric Fromm Authorian Conscience
Influenced by EXTERNAL AUTHORITY (parents teachers church leaders)
Guilt is actually a FEAR OF REJECTION by those who HAVE IMPOSED AUTHORITY (GOVERNMENT)
Can cause to Commit IMMORAL ACTS OUT OF FEAR
Secular Views Extra Scholars-Eric Fromm Humanitarian Conscience
Has Healthier approach to Assessing behaviour
Guides us to act in ways WE CAN DEVELOP
Intuitive Knowledge of what is HUMAN and INHUMAN
PREVENTS US FROM MURDERING INNOCENTS
Strengths of Aquinas’ Conscience
Highly Influential View Supported by the CATHOLIC CHURCH
Explains why Conscience can be INCORRECT-through use of IGNORANCE or WRONG Use of REASON
Clear Set of Authority/Guidance Supported by Bible
Included Knowledge and Reason as well as Religion so everyone can apply it -therefore UNIVERSAL
His theory explains how e can change our minds on moral issues over time. We can develop our conscience e.g. through education – this should improve the synderesis process.
Weaknesses of Aquinas Conscience
Some act can never be BLAMELESS regardless of RIGHT INTENTION/FOLLOWING CONSCIENCE ; you can still break the law and gain punishment
Assumes GOOD and EVIL are the SAME for everyone -SUBJECTIVE DOES NOT CONSIDER CULTURAL RELATIVISM
Theological Theory does not apply to non-religious people
Are Humans really Rational?
Conscience does feel intuitive and emotional, it is an immediate response – we tend to rationalise late
He does not take into account social or environmental factors that may influence our behaviours – Freud does consider this.
Weaknesses of Aquinas Conscience-Conflict with Reason
Conscience can Conflict with REASON
Debating whether To save SOMEONE DROWNING
REASON-are you a strong swimmer ? Could you find someone better suited?
Conscience -You must save someone’s life- what if they die ?
