Conscience

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  • Created by: Annetta
  • Created on: 07-01-17 18:44
What is the conscience?
Part of the human psyche that allows feelings of guilt when violating it.
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Syndresis
Greek, meaning ''moral awareness''
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Greek = The conscience reacts when our actions, thoughts & words go against the standard rights and wrong
Paul = refers to his conscience being ''good'' or ''clear'' (Acts 23:1). This was based of Gods standards.
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Christians
Must keep their consciences clear & obey God.
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Darwin
THE DESCENT OF MAN = viewed the C as a moral compass, a self judging 'inner voice' that appears to be human.
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Aquinas
''The mind of man making moral judgments''
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We are created with 'recta ratio' = right reason. Basic moral principles.
Followed Syndresis = all evil must be avoided.
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Conscientia = applying reason to certain questions of right and wrong.
Rational and objective. Using reason, not emotion.
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Major premise = syndresis. Minor premise = murder is evil. Conclusion = murder must be avoided. Therefore... conscience can make decisions.
''Reason in man is rather like God in the world''
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Prudence = right reasoning in moral matters, balancing ours and others needs.
A persons conscience can go wrong, either 'invincibly' = not their fault, or 'vincibly' = their fault.
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The C isn't a 'feeling' in you heart, but the process of reasoning.
Primary & Secondary Precepts.
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Haring
C is not a personal/intellectual ability, but is unique to each individual.
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C is the ultimate authority, but can be mistaken. Apparent goods can be mistaken for real goods. Therefore the C is fallible (imperfect).
Following our C doesn't mean a guaranteed right action. It does guarantee moral blamelessness. However, following the C is very necessary.
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God gave us the ability to reason. To ignore it is the 'same as dismissing the command of God'
Strengths = highly influential and supported by the Catholic Church. Explains why the C can be wrong...we sometimes follow apparent goods. Clear knowing of authority. Everyone experiences reason, as well as Religion. Everyone can apply.
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Weaknesses = some acts can't be morally blameless. They can still break the law. Assumes good and evil is the same for everyone.
Assumes no emotion is expressed, however we are not robotic! Can the C conflict with reason?
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Joseph Butler
C is central to humanity. Separates us from animals. Like Aquinas, it's used to judge an action good/bad.
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C must be obeyed if we want a happy life.
''A principle of reflection in men...between approval and disapproval of their own actions...this principle in man...conscience''
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C = authoritative and automatic. Gets the final say in moral choices. Our God given guide to right conduct, & should always be followed.
''Our natural guide, the guide assigned to us by the author of our nature''
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Strengths = intuitonism goes off instinct, not reason. A corrupt C explains why some do wrong.
Weaknesses = has everyone experienced the C? What if 2 people have opposing intuitions on a moral matter?
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John Newman
Humans don't use scientific reason & logic all the time. We know right/wrong through illative sense = feeling of responsibility and guilt.
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''We feel responsibility, are ashamed... there is one to whom we are responsible...we are ashamed...we fear'' = our C is 'voice of the lawgiver'
Strengths = shows importance of feelings & how they're linked to guilt & the C. Importance of taking responsibility for our actions. C can be based off intuition.
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Weaknesses = don't believe? Do you hear the voice? Can it be ignored? Will that cause punishment? Free will?
Sigmund Freud
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Concerned in Psycho-dynamics of the mind.
Id = pleasure principle. Ego = reality principle Super Ego = moral principle controlling yourself. Freud saw the C as an aspect of the Super Ego
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''observes the ego, gives it orders, judges it and threatens it with punishments...''
Development from birth to maturity = Oral (0-1), Anal (1-3), Phallic 3-5/6) = crucial for development of SE, Latency (5-6) puberty, Genital (puberty - maturity)
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Sequences are biologically determined. Also affected by parents = nature & nurture
Strenghts = importance of childhood is moral development. Role of parents
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Weaknesses = ignores later life experiences. Is conscience/morality consciousness? Free will? Do we have moral control over it?
Jean Piaget
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Concerned with childrens development. Theres a universal series of stages throughout childhood.
Heteronomous Morality = 5/9 - child looks beyond self for moral authority. Rules must be obeyed. Immoral acts result in punishment.
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Autonomous Morality = 10+ - personal morality develops based off social perceptions. Punishment is in proportion to the action. Less dependant on views of others.
Supported by Kholbergs 6th stage of moral development. Behaving in a socially acceptable way, to keeping the law, to caring for others and finally to respect universal principles.
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He thought: most adults don't move past obeying the law
Piaget & Kholberg = C is developed through social interaction. Easy to understand and observe through universally applied stages. We can develop moral consciousness from moral authority & become in control of our own morality.
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Erich Fromm
Influenced: parents, teachers & church leaders
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Disobedience causes guilt. Weakens our power. Makes us follow authority e.g. Nazi Government = Authoritarian Conscience
Strenghts = many support the C is developed by authority figures. Humans reaching full potential.
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Weaknesses = scary thought - C can be manipulated in order to do wrong acts. Free will? Brain washed?
Vincent MacNamara = misleading to call C a voice. Much better to see it as an attitude/awareness.
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Richard Gula = C as a series of laws is misleading. C is about vision & choice. Seeing & responding.
Timathy O'Connell = 3 parts of C. 1. Personal responsibility. 2. Obligation to search out good. 3. Judgement to follow what is good.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Greek, meaning ''moral awareness''

Back

Syndresis

Card 3

Front

Paul = refers to his conscience being ''good'' or ''clear'' (Acts 23:1). This was based of Gods standards.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Must keep their consciences clear & obey God.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

THE DESCENT OF MAN = viewed the C as a moral compass, a self judging 'inner voice' that appears to be human.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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