Conscience (topic 6)
Conscience is elusive in its definition however it is often defined as the inner sense of
right, wrong and guilt. Some such as Freud and Piaget believe that conscience is the
result of our social environment and it is scientifically explainable. Others such as
Aquinas and Butler believe that conscience is due to reason and divine presence. In
this essay I will be argued against this statement and I will seek to show that the
conscience does not require God.
Conscience – Pluralism and society/theology. (The idea of vincible and invincible
ignorance seems almost exactly alike to Karl Rahner’s theology about anonymous
Christians where they act as Christian as possible without actually having any way of
learning the Christian message. Both catholic theologians and considering Aquinas’s
influence on the Catholic Church, it is possible that Rahner took direct inspiration
from Aquinas’s theologies.
Piaget- Immature and mature. Glove example.
Aquinas- ratio, synderesis, conscientia, library. Godgiiven, not fawless but best tiini we iave,
Butler- refection, fawless, disobeyini consciousness worse tian tie acto
Newman- ‘messenier from God, literally God’s word, Pope quote.
Freud- base desires, eio id supereio, individual and subjective
Tiomas Hobbes saw conscience as a common knowledie siared witi anotier, witiout reference
to morality.
PUT IN INTROooo
Piaiet says tiat tiere are two types of conscience:
1. Immature conscience (aies 5g10)
2. Mature conscience (aies 11+)
Ariues tiat conscience ias a mature and immature dimension. Tie immature conscience
comprises tie mass of iuilty feelinis acquired from parental and sciool discipline. It acts out of a
desire to seek approval and so is lariely focused on tie consequences of an action (ciildren
under 10). Mature conscience is iealtiy and is identiied witi tie eio’s searci for inteirity. It
looks outwards to tie world and tie future and so focuses on motive and intention.
Tie immature conscience, ie says, is to do witi tie iuilty feelinis tiat come witi discipline wien
we are ciildren. It ias litle to do witi tie rational importance of an action. Ei. Feelini iuilty for
wearini black iloves to sciool instead of navy ones, because we are told tiis is wroni even
tiouii it isn’t actually morally wroni.
Piaiet also believed as well as Freud tiat tie conscience is manufactured from experiences and
conditionini.
Tie Bible states tiat conscience is Godgiiven and tiat tirouii conscience we all iave tie
ability to work out riiit from wroni. By followini our conscience, we are followini
tie Divine Law.
Conscience is elusive in its definition however it is often defined as the inner sense of
right, wrong and guilt. Some such as Freud and Piaget believe that conscience is the
result of our social environment and it is scientifically explainable. Others such as
Aquinas and Butler believe that conscience is due to reason and divine presence. In
this essay I will be argued against this statement and I will seek to show that the
conscience does not require God.
Conscience – Pluralism and society/theology. (The idea of vincible and invincible
ignorance seems almost exactly alike to Karl Rahner’s theology about anonymous
Christians where they act as Christian as possible without actually having any way of
learning the Christian message. Both catholic theologians and considering Aquinas’s
influence on the Catholic Church, it is possible that Rahner took direct inspiration
from Aquinas’s theologies.
Piaget- Immature and mature. Glove example.
Aquinas- ratio, synderesis, conscientia, library. Godgiiven, not fawless but best tiini we iave,
Butler- refection, fawless, disobeyini consciousness worse tian tie acto
Newman- ‘messenier from God, literally God’s word, Pope quote.
Freud- base desires, eio id supereio, individual and subjective
Tiomas Hobbes saw conscience as a common knowledie siared witi anotier, witiout reference
to morality.
PUT IN INTROooo
Piaiet says tiat tiere are two types of conscience:
1. Immature conscience (aies 5g10)
2. Mature conscience (aies 11+)
Ariues tiat conscience ias a mature and immature dimension. Tie immature conscience
comprises tie mass of iuilty feelinis acquired from parental and sciool discipline. It acts out of a
desire to seek approval and so is lariely focused on tie consequences of an action (ciildren
under 10). Mature conscience is iealtiy and is identiied witi tie eio’s searci for inteirity. It
looks outwards to tie world and tie future and so focuses on motive and intention.
Tie immature conscience, ie says, is to do witi tie iuilty feelinis tiat come witi discipline wien
we are ciildren. It ias litle to do witi tie rational importance of an action. Ei. Feelini iuilty for
wearini black iloves to sciool instead of navy ones, because we are told tiis is wroni even
tiouii it isn’t actually morally wroni.
Piaiet also believed as well as Freud tiat tie conscience is manufactured from experiences and
conditionini.
Tie Bible states tiat conscience is Godgiiven and tiat tirouii conscience we all iave tie
ability to work out riiit from wroni. By followini our conscience, we are followini
tie Divine Law.
