The conscience Flashcards
What is Aquinas’ view on ratio?
Ratio is reason and ability to make moral judgements.
This reason distinguishes us from animals.
Can connect us to the eternal realm.
How does ratio link to the idea of following rules of the land?
Ratio, following your conscience, means morality is not just following the laws of the land.
What are examples of where morality driven by laws is a wrong thing?
‘Jesus the rebel’
‘They are shouting the same thing… justice is trampled underfoot’ (Pope Benedict)
What is an example of where justice can be lost as the conscience is overruled?
Holocaust
What is Aquinas’ view on synderesis?
Synderesis directs us towards good and away from evil.
Human lean towards good before evil, even if we still have sensuality within us.
Ratio can cultivate the habit of synderesis, conscience comes from synderesis.
What is Aquinas’ view on conscientia?
Conscientia is conscience in action.
When ratio is used to inform synderesis, this results in acting upon your conscience = conscientia.
Quote for Aquinas’ view on conscience being an act?
‘It is clear that conscience is an act’
What is vincible ignorance?
Lack of knowledge where you are held responsible.
Morally culpable
What is invincible ignorance?
Lack of knowledge where you are not held responsible.
Morally inculpable
God would not condemn.
What is Aquinas’ example for invincible ignorance?
If a man sleeps with another man’s wife but he thinks that she is his and she also wants him, then he is free from fault.
Strengths of Aquinas’ view of the conscience?
He was highly influential ( CCC - ‘conscience formulates its judgements according to reason’)
He explains why conscience can be incorrect.
Clear set authority.
Experience of reason is universal.
Includes reason/logic/religion.
Weaknesses of Aquinas’ view of the conscience?
Some acts can never be morally blameless - may break the law and require punishment.
Assumes good and evil are the same for everyone.
Not useful for non-believers.
It assumes no emotion is expressed.
Are humans really rational?
Can conscience conflict with reason?
Quote from the Catechisms of the Catholic church on conscience?
‘conscience formulates its judgements according to reason’
Quote for Aquinas’ view on ratio?
‘the mind of man making moral judgements’
What are the psychosexual stages?
Oral (0-1)
Anal (1-3)
Phallic (3-5/6)
Latency (5/6 - puberty)
Genital (puberty - maturity)
Which psychosexual stage is crucial for the development of the superego?
The phallic stage - the child starts to experience pleasure ( the ego can learn to control the id)
What is the id?
Entirely unconscious part of the brain.
Central component of the personality from birth.
Powerful and primitive, driven by pleasure.
Seeks gratification.
What is the ego?
Understands that it is not socially acceptable to seek immediate gratification, hence children learn to keep in check.
Satisfies the desires in a more socially acceptable way.
Good conscience = effective operation of the ego over the id.
What is the superego?
It stores internalised moral standards acquired by parents and society.
Based on behaviourism - reward is banked in the superego.
Stops us from breaking rules out of fear of punishment - guilt.
Quote for Freud’s view on the ego?
The conscience ‘observes the ego… judges it and threatens it with punishment’
