Assessing Aquinas' Theological approach to conscience

Aquinas puts forward a view of the conscience that is dependent on reason. It does not see conscience as the product of the unconscious mind.

He believes that conscience is a real thing that is given by God.

Supporting Aquinas' view

• Aquinas' view of the conscience is rational rather than intuitive. This can be seen as an improvement on other theological views as this requires reasoning rather than relying on 'gut instinct'.

• It explains that conscience can be mistaken and that we can make moral mistakes. This is more difficult for theories where there is a direct link to God.

• It explains how we come to change our minds on moral issues. Our conscience can be developed through education.

• It also explains moral disagreement, which is also a difficulty for those who believe God directly speaks through conscience. Surely if God had communicated, we would all agree on what the standards are.

Difficulties for Aquinas' view

• Aquinas' view does not fit with our experience of conscience feelings.

Conscience does feel more intuitive and emotional in its promptings. We may rationalise at a later stage but the immediate experience is intuitive.

• Aquinas does not prioritise divine revelation; many Christians believe that God communicates directly, revealing his moral standards to us.

• Aquinas doesn't take into account the social and environmental factors that inevitably seem to affect our moral views. Freud seems to be right to suggest that these are a factor.

Developing an arguement

Point: One difficulty facing Aquinas view of the conscience is that there is a tension between his view that conscience can make mistakes and that you should always obey your conscience. It would seem that an erring conscience should not be taken as authoritative.

Development/discussion: One response that Aquinas might make to this issue is to point out that your conscience is the main source responsible in educating your conscience then the best that you can do is to follow it. Indeed the very process of reasoning about our actions is a process of conscience. It would be strange if at the end of that process we were to reject our own conclusions.