Conscience:
Conscience is often thought of as an inner sense of right and wrong
Henry Mencken defined conscience as ‘the inner voice that warns us somebody may
be looking’
Mel Thompson said that there are two things that are essential for the conscience to
operate: Knowledge of the Good, and freedom
‘The conscience is the sacred haven of the liberty of man’ – Napoleon Bonaparte –
Our conscience makes us free because we use it to make choices based on our inner
sense of right and wrong. We chose how to act based on what our conscience tells
us
St.Augustine considered conscience to be a tool for observing the law of God within
human hearts. The voice of God speaking to us, which we must seek within
ourselves. This intuitive activity reveals the most God-like behaviour, brining us into
close unity with God
Cardinal Newman: ‘The conscience is the messenger of God’
St.Jerome thought ‘the spark of conscience’ was the power to distinguish good from
evil. Therefore, we should always follow our conscience
Some have refused to fight for their country because of conscience. Some have
carried out acts of civil disobedience due to conscience. Conscience can be
disruptive, but it seems also to be a compelling dimension of the human experience
that is linked with moral integrity
People who have used their conscience to justify their actions:
Socrates:
On the one hand, Socrates conceives of thinking as an activity that presupposes the
so-called “two-in-one,” that is, as an activity that takes place between me and
myself, as an inner dialogue with two participants.5 On the other hand, and closely
related to the first precondition, Socrates is a conscientiously thinking being because
of his quest for harmony between the participants of this inner dialogue, for the
harmony of the soul
Socrates never claimed to be wise as he was conscious of his own ignorance about
higher matters; thus he had a type of wisdom.
Therefore, according to Socrates, the elenchus method is essential as it is a way of
testing your lack of knowledge by examining your ideas and beliefs. So even though
it does lead to perplexity, it makes you more conscious of your own ignorance and
consequently it makes you a better person.
Conscience is often thought of as an inner sense of right and wrong
Henry Mencken defined conscience as ‘the inner voice that warns us somebody may
be looking’
Mel Thompson said that there are two things that are essential for the conscience to
operate: Knowledge of the Good, and freedom
‘The conscience is the sacred haven of the liberty of man’ – Napoleon Bonaparte –
Our conscience makes us free because we use it to make choices based on our inner
sense of right and wrong. We chose how to act based on what our conscience tells
us
St.Augustine considered conscience to be a tool for observing the law of God within
human hearts. The voice of God speaking to us, which we must seek within
ourselves. This intuitive activity reveals the most God-like behaviour, brining us into
close unity with God
Cardinal Newman: ‘The conscience is the messenger of God’
St.Jerome thought ‘the spark of conscience’ was the power to distinguish good from
evil. Therefore, we should always follow our conscience
Some have refused to fight for their country because of conscience. Some have
carried out acts of civil disobedience due to conscience. Conscience can be
disruptive, but it seems also to be a compelling dimension of the human experience
that is linked with moral integrity
People who have used their conscience to justify their actions:
Socrates:
On the one hand, Socrates conceives of thinking as an activity that presupposes the
so-called “two-in-one,” that is, as an activity that takes place between me and
myself, as an inner dialogue with two participants.5 On the other hand, and closely
related to the first precondition, Socrates is a conscientiously thinking being because
of his quest for harmony between the participants of this inner dialogue, for the
harmony of the soul
Socrates never claimed to be wise as he was conscious of his own ignorance about
higher matters; thus he had a type of wisdom.
Therefore, according to Socrates, the elenchus method is essential as it is a way of
testing your lack of knowledge by examining your ideas and beliefs. So even though
it does lead to perplexity, it makes you more conscious of your own ignorance and
consequently it makes you a better person.
