The role of Conscience in making moral decisions

What might those who view conscience as reason (Aquinas) say about telling lies? Breaking promises?

• irrational

• As goes against precept of living in ordered society

• You can tell an evasive lie

• Contradicts synderesis

What might those who view conscience as socially conditioned (e.g. Durkheim and Fromm) say about telling lies? Breaking promises?

• conscience reflects value and principles of society

• Keeping promises maintains social approval

• Telling lies and breaking promises leads to disapproval from society and alienation

• Fear of alienation keeps you from breaking promises and telling lies

• Humanistic conscience (Fromm) tells you truthfulness allows society to flourish → some circumstances this is not the case and overriden e.g. the axe murderer

What might those who view conscience as a psychological phenomenon (e.g. Freud) say about telling lies? Breaking promises?

• if grown up in culture where telling lies and breaking promises is frowned upon, then conscience would tell you this is wrong

• If observed people lying then you probably wouldn’t see it as wrong

What might those who view conscience as reason (Aquinas) say about adultery?

• irrational

• Goes against synderesis

• Goes against living in ordered society, worship of God, reproduction

What might those who view conscience as acting with agape (Fletcher) say about adultery?

• for Fletcher conscience is just doing the most loving thing

• Sacrificial adultery is an exception

• Usually adultery is wrong

What might those who view conscience as socially conditioned (e.g. Durkheim and Fromm) say about adultery?

Durkheim:

• collective conscience would lead you to the conclusion that adultery is wrong

• Not wrong because it is sinful but because it is the breaking of a marriage contract (breaking promises)

Fromm:

• in some societies having multiple partners is permissible

What might those who view conscience as a psychological phenomenon (e.g. Freud) say about adultery?

• depends on what society the individual grew up in

• Depends on the individuals psychology - whether the views of ego or superego play the larger part in the decision making

Is conscience useful when making moral decisions? (How far dies conscience help the individual to behave in line with objective moral truths?)

• Freud - Id could override conscience, useless as just other morals

• Religious - Aquinas, God given ability to reason, might not be useful as leads to obedience

• If conscience is norms of society could keep you in line with society

What is the value of conscience if it is the ‘Voice of God’?

• it depends

• Has value as God is directly preventing you from sin, aligning you with God’s will and gives revelation

• Moral value; has none. As just blind obedience

• Bible is general life advice

• Whereas conscience is individual advice

What is the value of conscience if it is the internalised values of society? (Sociology)

• protects yourself from societal rejection

• Problem: inhibit and prevents society changes → authoritarian conscience may get around the issue as acts towards human flourishing

What is the value of conscience if it’s the inner parent? (Freud)

• valuable as stops you from being controlled by desires which can harm others

• Could be harmful if parents have harmful ideals e.g. homophobia and racism

What is the value of individualised conscience?

• more of a guide to objective moral truths

• Not based on feelings and inputs from others

• Rational calculation to work out if something can be universalised

• Could be harmful if tells you to do something that goes against the norms of society

What is the value of conscience if it is reason?

• allows for full moral responsibility

• Allows for objective thinking which leads to objective moral truths

Can conscience guide at all?

Yes - depends on your definition of conscience

Would hard determinists believe conscience can guide at all?

• determined by internal and external factors (i.e. genes and society)

• therefore is the only thing that can guide you

Why might the subjective nature of conscience be problematic?

Don’t know which view of conscience will align you with objective moral truths

One central problem in evaluating the value of conscience is that there is no agreed definition of it.

Clinical analysis of each definition conscience must be done