Assessing Aquinas' Theological approach to conscience

What is Aquinas' view of conscience?

Aquinas views conscience as a rational faculty that is dependent on reason, which is ultimately given by God, rather than being merely a product of subconscious instincts or emotions.

How does Aquinas define a rational conscience?

Aquinas defines a rational conscience as the ability to engage in moral reasoning, thereby suggesting that moral mistakes can occur when reasoning is flawed, emphasizing the need for educated moral decisions.

What does moral development refer to in the context of Aquinas' theory?

Moral development in Aquinas' context refers to the ongoing process through which individuals can educate and refine their conscience, evolving their sense of right and wrong over time.

What is moral disagreement and its significance?

Moral disagreement refers to the varying beliefs among individuals regarding moral standards, presenting a challenge to the idea that God directly communicates a singular moral code to everyone, as evidenced by these differing beliefs.

What are intuitive feelings of conscience?

Intuitive feelings of conscience are the immediate emotional responses experienced when faced with moral dilemmas; these feelings may conflict with the more rational perspectives proposed by Aquinas.

What is divine revelation?

Divine revelation is the concept that God directly communicates moral truths to individuals; however, Aquinas places less emphasis on this notion, focusing instead on reason as the basis for moral judgment.

What role do environmental factors play in morality according to Aquinas?

Environmental factors encompass the social and contextual influences that shape an individual's moral perspectives, which Aquinas' theory may not fully account for or address.

What is the tension in Aquinas' view of conscience?

The tension in Aquinas' view arises from the contradictory notion that, although conscience can make errors, individuals are still obligated to follow their conscience in moral decision-making.

What does it mean to educate one's conscience?

Educating one's conscience refers to the individual's responsibility to actively develop and improve their moral reasoning and understanding over time, enhancing their ability to make sound moral choices.

What is an erring conscience?

An erring conscience is one that leads to incorrect or mistaken moral judgments; despite its potential mistakes, Aquinas considers it a fundamental source of moral guidance due to its reliance on individual reasoning.

According to Aquinas, why does the conscience make mistakes?

Because human reason is fallible, the conscience thereby becomes fallible. We could be mistaken for example when we don't know how a general rule applies to a certain situation (mistake in conscientia). Aquinas claims that the synderesis rule and the primary precepts cannot be mistaken or lost from the human mind.