-Conscience: the faculty/capacity of human beings to reach a personal judgement or
distinguish right from wrong.
1) Theological views: Conscience is divine in origin, either:
-The Voice of God literally speaking to us
-A divine faculty
2) Psychological views: Conscience is a result of social interaction, and is an
authoritarian voice instilled in us.
1) AQUINAS ON CONSCIENCE
“Not a power but an act”
-Recta ratio: right reason. Ability to distinguish between right and wrong.
1.) Synderesis: Infallible. Natural inclination to ‘do good and avoid evil,’ built into us by
God. A habit that can be developed by practice.
2.) Conscientia: Fallible. Fletcher: described it as a verb. The actual judgement to
decide what to do is our own and relies on the use of ratio.
-Vincible ignorance: lack of knowledge e.g. lack of awareness of adultery. You should
be educated and not pursue an apparent good.
-Invincible ignorance: lack of knowledge for which the person isn’t responsible e.g.
sleeping with someone you believe to be your wife, and she believes to be your husband.
-Catholic theology: to commit a sin, one needs full knowledge.
-Aristotle: two factors to excuse someone from blame are ignorance and a lack of choice.
AUGUSTINE ON THE CONSCIENCE
-Literally the voice of God, as well as an innate capacity to know the difference
between good and bad.
-God’s grace directs our broken will to the right thing, which we cannot do without God.
-Although everyone has a conscience, this does not make them virtuous.
distinguish right from wrong.
1) Theological views: Conscience is divine in origin, either:
-The Voice of God literally speaking to us
-A divine faculty
2) Psychological views: Conscience is a result of social interaction, and is an
authoritarian voice instilled in us.
1) AQUINAS ON CONSCIENCE
“Not a power but an act”
-Recta ratio: right reason. Ability to distinguish between right and wrong.
1.) Synderesis: Infallible. Natural inclination to ‘do good and avoid evil,’ built into us by
God. A habit that can be developed by practice.
2.) Conscientia: Fallible. Fletcher: described it as a verb. The actual judgement to
decide what to do is our own and relies on the use of ratio.
-Vincible ignorance: lack of knowledge e.g. lack of awareness of adultery. You should
be educated and not pursue an apparent good.
-Invincible ignorance: lack of knowledge for which the person isn’t responsible e.g.
sleeping with someone you believe to be your wife, and she believes to be your husband.
-Catholic theology: to commit a sin, one needs full knowledge.
-Aristotle: two factors to excuse someone from blame are ignorance and a lack of choice.
AUGUSTINE ON THE CONSCIENCE
-Literally the voice of God, as well as an innate capacity to know the difference
between good and bad.
-God’s grace directs our broken will to the right thing, which we cannot do without God.
-Although everyone has a conscience, this does not make them virtuous.
