Topic 4 – Conscience
“Conscience enables us to judge good and evil, reproaches us when we have done
wrong, gives us peace when we have done well.” (Edna McDonagh)
Essay – ‘Assess the view that conscience is not the voice of God but is learned.’ (35)
Scholars
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Augustine
Aquinas
Joseph Butler
JS Mill
Cardinal Newman
Freud
Richard Gula
Fromm
Piaget
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Kohlberg
MacNamara
R. Preston
Nietzsche (against conscience)
Marx (against conscience)
Dawkins (against conscience)
R. Rorty (against conscience)
St. Jerome
St. Thomas More
Key Reading Works and Areas
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Oliphant J. ‘OCR Religious Ethics for AS and A2’ Chapter
Palmer M. ‘Moral Problems’ Chapter
Wright R. ‘Understanding Religious Ethics’ Chapter 13
Torevell D.
‘Considering Conscience’ Dialogue
Sample Quotes
“The divine law, then, is the rule of ethical truth, the standard of right and wrong, a sovereign, irreversible, absolute
authority… This law, as appreciated in the minds of individual men, is called ‘conscience’… hence it is never lawful to
go against our conscience.” (Newman)
“We have a duty to educate our conscience. There are many external guides to help the development of conscience
e.g. the Church (although individual Christians may differ with its teaching). Influence on young people by parents,
peers, role models, experts, colleagues, stories, images, language, rituals and actions. Christians have also been
influenced by scripture, the creeds, saints and theologians.” (Ronald Preston)
“…the spark of conscience…with which we discern that we sin.” (St. Jerome)
“To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one’s heart, soul and mind.” (St. Augustine)
“The mind of man making moral judgements.” (Aquinas)
“There is a principle of reflection in men by which they distinguish between approval and disapproval of their own
actions…this principle in man is conscience.” (J. Butler)
“They can demonstrate the effects of the law engraved on their hearts, to which their own conscience bears witness.”
(Romans 2:15)
“And I will place my umpire within them as a guide
My umpire conscience.” (Milton in ‘Paradise Lost’)