What is the etymology of conscience?
Cum alio scientia : Come with your knowledge
How does Fletcher define conscience?
“A word for our attempts to make decisions creatively, constructively & fittingly”
What quote sums up Aquinas’ view of conscience?
“Conscience is not a power but an act”
Explain the process of Aquinas’ conscience in 4 steps?
- Human telos is to follow moral law - this is why we have ratio
- Synderesis Rule: we are inclined to do good over evil
- Synderesis: Allows us to know the primary precepts
- Conscientia: Use ratio to apply primary precepts to actions - secondary precepts
What is the process of understanding, judging & deliberating called?
Prudential Thought
What is phronesis?
Wisdom
What biblical quote captures guilt?
“Your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others”
What are the 3 things Aquinas thinks conscience does?
- Witnesses
- Binds
- Torments
What is vincible & invincible ignorance?
Vincible : Punishable
Invincible : Not Punishable
What terms mean things you think are good vs what is actually good?
Real and apparent goods
What did Francis Bacon discover that Carroll coorberates?
Telos is unscientific & purpose is not in the ‘architecture’ of the universe
What can actually explain the myth of telos?
Evolution
How does Ockham’s Razor challenge Aquinas?
If we have a scientific explanation that is simpler than a supernatural explanation then we must believe the science
When was Freud working?
Edwardian & Victorian Era
What 2 theories underpin Freud’s views?
Oedipus Rex
Primal Horde
Why does Freud not like religion?
It is a Collective Neurosis that creates societal taboos
What are the 3 parts of a Freudian mind?
- Id
- Ego
- Super-ego
What are the stages in psychosexual development?
- Oral Stage
- Anal Stage
- Phallic Stage
- Latency Stage
- Mature Genital Stage
What is the main problem with Freud?
It is a speculative theory based on a small sample of people
What does science say is the main problem with Freud?
It is ‘unfalsifiable’ theories - predictions must have the potential to be wrong to really be science
What do Feurbach and Newman disagree on?
F: God is a projection of the human mind
N: Your feelings of guilt come from God
What does Piaget prove?
Our conscience is the result of childhood & conditioning/socialisation
What does Fromm believe?
Instead of a Freudian authoritarian conscience, we should use a humanistic conscience: an inner voice guiding personal growth (autonomy)
What does Fletcher think is a weakness of Aquinas?
Different cultures have different moral views but Aquinas believes that all cultures have a core set of moral views, if they don’t it is the result of sin and corruption
