WHAT IS CONSCIENCE?
Etymology: con (with) + scientia (knowledge) [From scire (to know)]. The word conscience derives from the Latin cum (together) and scientia, scire (to know).
Conscience is our lived knowledge of good and evil, our judgment about how we should act, and our commitment to do so. A moral faculty or feeling prompting us to see that certain actions are morally right or wrong.
Conscience is the persons moral faculty, the inner core and sanctuary where one knows oneself in confrontation with God and with fellowmen. (Bernard Haring, CSsR) An inward moral impression of ones actions and principles as the inward faculty of moral judgment as the inward moral and spiritual frame (Analytical Greek Lexicon)
Images of Conscience
our most secret core and sanctuary where we encounter God; our heart
(Catechism#1776).
Images of Conscience
a law inscribed in our hearts by God and recognized as our own; its voice calls us to love and do what is good and avoid evil (Catechism
#1776; Romans 2:1415).
Images of Conscience
our moral compass that directs us to good or evil.
Images of Conscience
our moral sensory faculty: capacity to see, feel, hear, smell, and touch the good; moral appetite us as we judge moral questions (whole person includes intellect, feeling, imagination, and will).
Conscience is a practical moral judgment: the dictate of conscience
A. Conscience is a practical moral judgment on the morality of a particular action. commanding to do what is good and to avoid what is evil. B. This description of conscience pertains to all persons.
Example: It was the night before their final examination. Cherise prepared a kodigo. She earnestly desired to get a high grade in the exam and to impress her classmates as well. However, on the day of the exam, she felt a growing uneasiness deep within herself and gave up her plan.
The feeling of uneasiness - result of conscience which made her realize her moral obligation to be honest, which led her to give up her plan to cheat. Therefore if conscience tells us that this act is cheating and therefore is bad, it is a moral judgment which expresses that we are morally bound not to do the act. If we go ahead and do not follow my conscience, we sin.
As a practical moral judgment: the dictate of conscience Two basic elements of conscience: 1. Moral judgment that discerns what is right or wrong 2. Moral obligation or command to do the good and avoid the evil.
As a moral faculty
- The faculty which makes known to man his moral obligations and urges him to fulfill them. - It is a faculty distinct from reason, will and feeling, situated at the very depth and center of the human person which gives to man an understanding of his meaning and destiny, an awareness of the divine purpose behind the world, a perception of his personal calling within Gods plan and an experience of the imperative character of this calling (Peschke).
In the depths of his or her conscience, the human person detects a law which she or he does not impose upon themselves, but which holds them to obedience. Always summoning them to love good and avoid evil, the voice of conscience when necessary speaks to their heart: do this, shun that.
Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, #16
Deep within our conscience we discover a law which we have not laid on ourselves, but which we must obey. We are not the source of our own conscience. We cannot manipulate or silence our conscience. It will never leave us peace unless it is obeyed.
Its voice, ever calling us to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, tell us inwardly at the right time: do this, shun that. a law within us that always commands us to do good and avoid evil
For man has in his heart a law written by God; to obey it is the very dignity of man; according to it he will be judged.(9) Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a man. There he is alone with God, Whose voice echoes in his depths.(10) Gaudium et Spes,
Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, #16
For persons have in their hearts a law written by God. To obey it is their very dignity; according to it they will be judged. The source of our conscience is GOD. To obey it is our very dignity as true images of God. Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of all persons. There they are alone with God, whose voice echoes in their depths. the core or sanctuary where God speaks to us/ meets the person as a free and intelligent being who has the capacity to make choices.
CONSCIENCE IN THE SCRIPTURES
OLD TESTAMENT
Limited interest in conscience; inner moral authority Stress is direct relations wit God; listening to the Word of God is primary
Syneidesis a Greek word for conscience appeared only in the Book of Wisdom
OLD TESTAMENT
Some expressions related to conscience: Mind Loins Heart
Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. (Psalm 26:2) But, O LORD Almighty, you who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. (Jer 11:20)
OLD TESTAMENT
Some expressions related to conscience: Mind Loins Heart
Conscience condemns man after sin is known. (Gen 3:7-10 Adam and Eve, Gen 4:9-14 Cain and Abel) Conscience praises man for justice. (Job 27:6, Ps 17:3, 26, ff, 139:23 ff) Judgement of conscience in the OT - ultimately voice of God.
NEW TESTAMENT
St. Paul used the word syneidesis A Greek concept; a negative judge of completed or at least initiated action.
NEW TESTAMENT
Conscience is:
1. A God-given capacity for human being to exercise self-evaluation (Acts 23:1, 24:16, 1 Cor 4:4)
Paul refers to his conscience as good clear, blameless, his values and standards in conformity with Gods standards; conscience a faculty to evaluate good and evil.
NEW TESTAMENT
Conscience is: 2. A witness Romans 2:14 15 = Gods law written in hearts of Gentiles Romans 9:1 = His conscience as witness he is telling the truth 2 Cor 1:12 = he conducts self with holiness and sincerity
NEW TESTAMENT
Conscience is: 3. A Servant to the individuals value system Romans 14, 1 Cor 8 the issue of the Church of Corinth eating food sacrificed for idols; Paul instructing not to eat from the disputed food in the presence of the weaker brothers so as not to seduce them from acting against their conscience and sin.
NEW TESTAMENT
Conscience is: 3. A Servant to the individuals value system A weak value system produces weak sense of right and wrong while a strong value system produces a strong sense of right and wrong. Conscience can be erroneous and cannot be directly equated to the voice of God; it examines and not creates norms; it uses criteria to judge what people do or fail to do.
NEW TESTAMENT
Conscience is: 4. A universal endowment of all human beings Romans 2:14-ff : Gentiles have the possibility to fulfill the moral law even without the knowledge of the written law; their conscience bears witness and shows what the law requires; everybody has conscience, endowed with a faculty for moral judgements
SUMMARY
Conscience receives a growing attention in the Bible
In the Old Testament, the emphasis is more on man listening to the Word of God rather than an inner moral authority conscience.
In the New Testament, conscience is described as an endowment embedded in the context of faith and oriented by it.
SUMMARY
In the New Testament, conscience is also seen as a reality with limitations owing to mans limitations a a creature; a reality in need of cleansing and purification For the Bible, the key words in ethics is not the concept of conscience experienced as something subjective and individual. The distinctive words are: obedience and love or service, always give expression of a transcendental relationship.
CONSCIENCE IN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
Scholastic Theology
Conscience is a particular instance of the operation of reason. A process in which the general norms of the moral law are applied to a concrete action which a person is about to perform or has performed Tells the person that his moral obligation is here and now or judging is past acts.
2 Essential parts of Conscience: Synderesis and Conscientia Synderesis discovers very basic moral principles; the use of right reason by which we learn basic moral principles and understand that we have to do good and avoid evil. Conscientia (conscience) = practical reason which tells us what to do in particular situations
Joseph Butler Bishop of Durham 1750.
wrote that the most crucial thing which distinguished women and men from the animal world was the possession of the faculty of reflection or conscience. So being human involves being moral. Conscience is a persons God-given guide to right conduct and its demands must therefore always be followed.
Joseph Butler Bishop of Durham 1750.
the consequence of an action is not what makes it right or wrong as that has already happened the purpose of conscience is to guide a person into a way of life that will make them happy conscience will harmonise self-love and benevolence this may take some sorting out and so in moral dilemmas we may be uncertain what to do conscience controls human nature
Augustine and Franciscan School
Conscience is the place of the innermost encounter between God and man; the voice of God;
A divine center of the person where he is addressed by God and in it he is aware of God and the soul.
Bonaventure and great mystics
Conscience as the scintilla animae, the spark of the soul
Peak of the soul; the center of the soul where man encounters God and is at least accessible to the contamination of sin.
Conscience is not mere reason; not mere executive agent of pre-existing moral laws tasked to apply them on concrete situations. It informs a person about a personal calling in the context of Gods plan o creation. Reason is not purely intellectual operations from merely rational premises considering strong elements of an emotional nature with consequent conscience
Conscience has both perceptive and volative functions; perceives the moral obligation and urges the person to accept the good and realize it. Conscience is not identical with the power of the will; man may still will and do what is against his conscience A ground of the soul deeper than and distinct from both reason and will.
Conscience is a faculty in its own right distinct from reason, will and feeling; situated at the very depth and center of the person and helps him/her understand meaning and destiny: An awareness of the divine purpose; a perception of ones personal calling; an experience of the imperative nature of the call; Conscience has a religious dimension
Conscience can evidently err. Even then it still manifests the will of God not in the sense that God wills the error. It is the voice of God in the sense that God wills the good faith and the love of the good of which it remains an expression.
KINDS OF CONSCIENCE AND ITS BINDING FORCE
A. Conscience in the Process of Time: Antecedent, Concomitant, Consequent
Antecedent: Judgment on morality of action and obligation to perform or omit is passed before action is translated to reality. It helps us to sort out the data and examine the morality of an act before we perform it. It commands, exhorts, permits or forbids.
A. Conscience in the Process of Time: Antecedent, Concomitant, Consequent
Concomitant: During the action; refers to ones actual awareness of being morally responsible for the goodness and the badness of the particular act while one is doing it. eg. Scolding or disapproving (as in the case of habitual sins: kupit, saying bad words, answering back, etc.) or approving (as in the case of good habits).
A. Conscience in the Process of Time: Antecedent, Concomitant, Consequent
Consequent: if it evaluates an act already done or omitted. It is the process of looking back to review and evaluate the morality of what we have done. It approves, excuses, reproves or accuses.
B. Conscience seen according to the Objective Norm: Right, Erroneous, perplexed, lax, scrupulous, compensatory
Vincibly erroneous: The error is due to ones own fault but, with some good will, can still be corrected.
It often happens when one is doubtful and do not take time and energy to find out what is truly good and bad. Culpable and cannot be followed as a legitimate rule of action.
Invincibly erroneous:
It is the type that is not due to ones own fault; Person has no awareness of the possibility of error; Must be followed just the same as a certain conscience which is right.
Perplexed conscience: This type of erroneous conscience fears sin in whatever choice it makes (conflict of values). This usually occurs in individuals who are less acquainted with moral norms. If the decision can be delayed, postpone action to obtain information, if not, choose the lesser evil.
Lax conscience: With insufficient grounds, conscience is inclined to judge a thing to be truthful when in fact sinful; allowable when objectively it is not
Considers something to be a light sin when actually it is a grave one. Need to reform state of mind; considered erroneous
Scrupulous conscience:
It is in constant dread of sin where there is none, or of grave sin when there is only venial sin.
B. Conscience in Relation to Certitude: Certain, Doubtful
Certain Conscience It passes judgment without fear of error.
It is purity of intention. Ones moral actions are not for show but arise from a sincere intention to do what is right; is acting according to ones convictions.
This must always be obeyed when it commands or forbids
Doubtful Conscience It is uncertain concerning the morality of an action;
therefore it suspends its judgments; or it passes judgments but with reasonable fear of erring;
One may never act in a practical doubt on the lawfulness of an action; act can be postponed there is certainty.
DEVELOPMENT OF CONSCIENCE
Freud
The human personality consists of three areas: the superego the set of moral controls given to us by outside influences. It is our moral code or conscience and is often in conflict with the Id. the ego the conscious self, the part seem by the outside world. id the unconscious self, the part of the mind containing basic drives and repressed memories. It is amoral, has no concerns about right and wrong and is only concerned with itself.
Freud
Conscience is most clearly connected with the sense of guilt that we feel when we go against our conscience.
Conscience then is simply a construct of the mind. In religious people this would be in response to perceptions of God.
Freud
In non-religious people it would be their responses to externally imposed authority.
The content of our consciences are shaped by our experiences The superego internalises the disapproval of others and creates the guilty conscience
Piaget
A childs moral sense develops and the ability to reason morally depends on cognitive development.
Heteronomous morality (between the ages of 5 and 10 years) when the conscience is still immature, rules are not to be broken and punishment is expected if a rule is broken. The consequences of an action will show if it is right or wrong. Autonomous morality (10+) when children develop their own rules and understand how rules operate in and help society. The move towards autonomous morality occurs when the child is less dependant on others for moral authority.
Kohlberg
People move from: behaving in socially acceptable ways because they are told to do so by authority figures and want to gain approval, to keeping the law to caring for others and finally respect for universal principles and the demands of an individual conscience. Kohlberg felt that most adults never got beyond keeping the law.
I will not steal because if I get caught I will be punished.
I will steal the drugs for my wife for if she dies, nobody will take care of me anymore.
I will steal the drug because if my wife remains untreated and dies, our friends will say I did not take care of her.
I will not steal the drug because for stealing is against the law.
The drug should be made available to anyone who needs it, not possessed by one person for his own interest.
The human being is more important than any law or convention. I have to save her not because she is my wife but because she is a human being who needs help.
Fromm
Authoritarian Conscience all humans are influenced by external authorities which apply rules and punishments for breaking them these are internalised by the individual a guilty conscience is a result of displeasing the authority disobedience produces guilt which makes us more submissive to the authority
Fromm
Humanistic Conscience
He saw the humanistic conscience as being much healthier as it assesses and evaluates our behaviour. We use it to judge how successful we are as people. We use our own discoveries in life and the teachings and example of others to give us personal integrity and moral honesty. This is the opposite to the slavish obedience and conformity of the authoritarian conscience.
External Environment People, family, home Authority, society Laws, rules, expectations
Dynamic process
Human Person
Interiority
Development of the sense of what is good and bad
LEVELS OF CONSCIENCE
1. FEAR CONSCIENCE
a) operates on the instinctive level b) focuses on the command, on the material breaking of the command, on escaping punishment, and on being restored to the good graces of the authority figure.
2. MORAL-ETHICAL CONSCIENCE a) looks beneath the command of the authority to the inner moral good or evil of the act b) The inner good or evil is judged in terms of the value of the human person in community.
3. CHRISTIAN ( Religious) CONSCIENCE a) operates on the religious level b) Not some separated area but the whole of our daily lives, c) Using ethical reason d) But now strengthened and illumined by Christs revelation and grace e) METANOIA
Formation of a Christian Conscience
Objective Moral Order
Objective Pole
Conscience judges a moral act as it relates to the objective moral order outside of the person.
The Person
The resulting judgement of the faculty of conscience can be either right or erroneous.
Subjective Pole
Objective Moral Order
Objective Pole
The adult conscience interiorizes the external voice of the objective norms directing or constraining the person.
Interiorization arises from the conviction of the inner value of the moral obligation which enables human person to answer Gods call.
The Person
Subjective Pole
Everyone is obliged to use serious diligence to possess on all occasions a true conscience. Overcome ignorance and error by applying ourselves to the study of our moral, civil and Churchs laws and regulations. Overcome doubts in moral matters by forming good habits of reasoning or by consulting prudent and virtuous persons.
Form Reform
Inform
Conscience in Action
Formation Strengths/Obstacles Information Resources/Obstacles Discern
Reconsider
Discernment Insights/Blindspots Decision and Action Strengths/Weaknesses Reflection to Reform Strengths/Obstacles Decide
Reflect
Act
Formation of a Christian Conscience
Personal & ecclesial PRAYER LIFE. Studying the WORD of GOD & the Teachings of the Church (Seek the moral guidance of the Church) Responsiveness to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Examination of ones conscience. Critical Reflection on our concrete moral choices & experiences in daily life.
In the formation of their consciences, the Christian faithful ought carefully to attend to the sacred and certain doctrine of the Church.(35) For the Church is, by the will of Christ, the teacher of the truth. It is her duty to give utterance to, and authoritatively to teach, that truth which is Christ Himself, and also to declare and confirm by her authority those principles of the moral order which have their origins in human nature itself. Dignitates Humanae #14
THE COMPULSORY NATURE OF CONSCIENCE
In so far as conscience operates within the realm of truth and sound reason, following it is compulsory. It is infallible, it should be followed.
It is truly the voice of God when it impels us to act according to our rational insights
When error creeps in, one has the responsibility to trace the roots of error and eradicate it.
FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE
Human beings have the right to freedom of conscience; human dignity demands that the human being acts to a knowing and free choice.
Vatican II declares that man is not to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his conscience nor is he to be restrained from acting in accordance with his conscience.
Man ought to be fully free in his moral decisions, gearing towards authentic selfrealization and selfdonation in love...a response of love to a call of love.
If the dictates of his conscience is in conflict with rights of others or the common welfare, he must reexamine his conscience and suspect that it can be erroneous and needs revision.
Some Current Issues Related to Conscience
Conflict between the Church's teaching (Magisterium) with one's conscience (conscience of the faithful).
The faithful asserting to follow ones conscience (primacy /compulsory nature of conscience The Magisterium performing its role and duty to teach with authority the princples of the moral order in line with the Christian faith.
THE RH BILL
a high 69% of respondents agree and support the RH Bill. (Pulse Asia Survey Oct 2010)
IN A survey conducted by the Ateneo Statistics Circle for The GUIDON last June, several Ateneans expressed support for the controversial Reproductive Health bill. 142 out of 172 respondents from the sophomore, junior, and senior batches are in favor of the bill, citing its provisions for greater access to reproductive health information and services.
The Catholic Church says no to RH Bill
Conscience?
The Magisterium.
Primacy of Conscience?
Primacy of conscience does not mean that it is the final arbiter of what is morally right. Conscience is our judgement using ethical reason based on the law of God.
Conflict between the Church's teaching (Magisterium) with one's conscience (conscience of the faithful).
Conscience? The Magisterium.
Conscience is one's best judgment, in a given situation, on what here and now is to be done as good, or to be avoided as evil. Presumption: conscience is formed and informed.
Conflict between the Church's teaching (Magisterium) with one's conscience (conscience of the faithful).
Conscience? The Magisterium.
Dissent comes not because one does not agree with the teaching or does not like what the Church wants to be done. Decision comes with ones careful study of the teachings and an honest discernment.
Conflict between the Church's teaching (Magisterium) with one's conscience (conscience of the faithful).
Conscience? The Magisterium.
Challenge for the faithful: form and inform ones conscience. For the church authorities: teach in the spirit of co-responsibility & reciprocity, not through coercive exercise of power.
Conscience and Human Law
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others in public or private to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Article 18 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
Freedom of religion or belief means having the freedom to worship, observe, practice and teach, alone or with other people.
Freedom of conscience protects the freedom of individuals with a diversity of beliefs and is essential to peaceful coexistence.
Freedom of conscience ensures that individuals protection in law and pursuit of activities, careers, and economic ventures that they desire. Protections for rights of conscience relate to employers and employees.
Conscience Issues Related to the RH Bill
Section 7 all accredited health facilities shall provide a full range of modern family planning methods; health care workers are required to refer patients for services. Employers are required to provide in their CBAs reproductive health services of their employees. Freedom of conscience doesnt only mean having the ability to opt out of the action itself, but also the freedom to opt out of any action, direct or indirect, that would promote, encourage or give the appearance of encouraging that action.
Conscience Issue Related to the RH Bill
Section 7 all accredited health facilities shall provide a full range of modern family planning methods; health care workers are required to refer patients for services. Employers are required to provide in their CBAs reproductive health services of their employees. Adequate protection of conscience rights to health institutions, individuals, or community health workers is not provided.
Freedom of Conscience in Profession
pharmacists with religious objections refusing to fill prescriptions for any drug, including abortifacient contraceptives and the so-called "morning after New York City hospitals now require abortion training for all their OB/GYN resident doctors unless they invoke a narrowly written conscience clause.
A nurse was threatened with firing after she refused to follow a doctor's verbal order to increase an intravenous morphine drip "until he stops breathing" on a patient who continued to survive despite having a ventilator removed. Three California nurses were suspended after they reported a doctor who later admitted giving a lethal injection to a child.
A dedicated nurse who cared for elderly nuns in a Catholic facility for over a decade was told she could resign when she objected to the slow starvation and dehydration deaths of two of her beloved nuns.
Conscience Clauses in US Laws clauses that sought to protect health-care workers who refused to participate in certain health-care practices such as the provision of contraception, sterilization or abortion, claiming that participation in these services violated their consciences. Refusal clause banned state and local governments from discriminating against health-care entities that refuse to provide abortion training, perform abortions or even provide referrals for abortions or abortion training.
Objection to the clause By refusing to even provide a referral, the act becomes an infringement on the conscience of the patient by denying her the means to obtain an abortion in a safe, convenient and timely manner.
Conscience meets conscience
Prisoners of Conscience
people who have been jailed because of their political, religious or other conscientiously-held beliefs, ethnic origin, sex, color, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth, sexual orientation or other status.
In the Philippines
In June of 1963, Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk Thch Qung c burned himself to death at a busy intersection in Saigon. The self-immolation was done in response to the persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnams Ngo Dinh Diem administration. The Catholic regime had cracked down on practicing Buddhists by banning the flying of the traditional Buddhist flag; prohibiting Buddhists from exercising the same religious freedoms as Catholics; and the continued detainment of Buddhist monks and nuns a moment referred to the Buddhist Crisis
