Conscience

CONSCIENCE 

A01

AQUINAS:

Vincible vs invincible ignorance:

Vincible ignorance: refers to the lack of knowledge for which a person is morally responsible.

Invincible ignorance: knowledge that a person could nit be expected to reasonably know with sufficient diligence.

Synderesis:

‘A natural disposition of the human mind by which we instinctively understand the first principles of morality’

^ aq thought people tended towards goodness and away form evil. (The ‘Synderesis rule’)

Conscientia:

The power of reason for working out what was good and what was evil, the ‘application of knowledge to activity.’ 

^ in practice conscientia is something similar to Aristotles phronesis or practical wisdom. We use our conscience practically in practice in real life. 

However, the conscience can make mistakes, needs to be trained to wisdom. 

E.g. a child has not yet honed their conscience. However, a factual mistake, if you are ignorant (didn’t know) you are not guilty. 

Works priori to, during and post actions. 

Eg serial killers etc-> aquinas says: we are given all the right tools, and they do not use them properly. It’s practical skill, they have not learnt properly how to use them, or are not using them. Not a voice, but a tool we are given.

Summa theologia:

Synderesis is a characteristic disposition rather than a power 

Conscience is an act, not a power 

Connects in 3 ways:

We recognise that we have or have not done something 

That we should or should not do something 

That we have or have not done something worthily 

-        Humans, to reach their telos, need to reach eudomonia. If we achieve this, we will be with god/ compete would god given telos..

-        To fulfil your ultimate goal, you must follow you inclinations. Eg humans are happier if fit, healthy. Interested… so exercise, read, enjoy culture, eat relatively well… 

1.     Eternal law (given by god)- will of god. 

2.      Divide law: old law of old t & new law or n t (j)

3.     The natural law (our natural inclination's, human morality, rationality.) things we know about the world through reason. Teleology. (End or purpose. Util is teleological ethic- look at outcome to see if ethical or not) aq- look at the end of something to see what it’s purpose will be. 

1. Human law- by gov, parents, school, society etc. Aq thought it would be built upon gods law, If we all followed we would be going towards to eternal law. But humans make mistakes, we are supposed to be naturally inclined towards good and away from evil, but we can make mistakes and misuse out synderesis and tools. We can reason poorly, avoid good and create evil by way of that. 

-        By avoiding our telos and synderesis we can create evil.

-        When we go against nature, this is evil. 

-        We use our reason poorly due to original sin. 

-        5 primary precepts (POWER) (helps fulfil your telos) preservation of life (I think), ordered…