Conscience

Question 1

Explain ratio

Answer 1

The word Aquinas uses to describe reason, something which is placed into every person as a result of their being created in the image of God

Question 2

Explain Synderesis

Answer 2

This is the key principle, for Aquinas, to follow good and avoid evil (a rule that all precepts follow)

Question 3

What is the Id ?

Answer 3

For Freud, this is the part of the mind that has impulses that seek satisfaction and pleasure

Question 4

What is the super-ego ?

Answer 4

Freud uses this word to describe the part of the mind that contradicts the id

Question 5

What is the ego?

Answer 5

Freud uses this word to describe the mediator between the id and the super-ego

Question 6

Explain conscientia

Answer 6

This is the process given by Aquinas, whereby a person’s reason makes moral judgements

Question 7

Explain vincible ignorance

Answer 7

This is how Aquinas describes the lack of knowledge for which a person is responsible, and can be blamed

Question 8

Explain invincible ignorance

Answer 8

This is how Aquinas describes the lack of knowledge for which a person is not responsible, and cannot be blamed

Question 9

Explain Aquinas’ Ratio

Answer 9

Ratio = reason

• Aquinas did not believe that the conscience was apart of the mind that told us right from wrong
• God gave us reason (ratio)
• ratio (reason) to Aquinas is more than simple comprehension or understanding, instead it is the act of using that reason to work things out or make a judgement

Question 10

Explain Aquinas’ synderesis

Answer 10

To do good and follow evil [links to natural law]

• he believed that this principle resided in all human and this is what distinguished them from animals
• but he was aware that both Synderesis and sensuality (temptation) was present in humans
• but was positive that humans can use their ratio to make good moral judgments

Question 11

Explain Aquinas’ conscientia

Answer 11

For Aquinas the conscientia (conscience) is what applies our knowledge, makes the judgement and moves us to act

For Aquinas the conscience is an act that follows knowledge gained via ratio

Question 12

Aquinas quote about conscientia

Answer 12

Conscience is ‘reason making right decisions’ [Thomas Aquinas, ‘summa theologica’ 1265-74 part 1-2]

Question 13

Explain Aquinas’ ignorance

Answer 13

For Aquinas their are two kinds of ignorance, as he understands that a person can honestly do he wrong thing

Vincible ignorance
- is a lack of knowledge where the person CAN be held responsible (as they ought to have known better)
- someone who demonstrates vincible ignorance, cannot claim that ‘conscience’ justifies their action

Invincible ignorance
- is a lack of knowledge where the person CANNOT be held responsible
- this is when a person acts best to the knowledge they have been given, but nevertheless the wrong act doesn’t make it right
- Aquinas doesn’t believe these people are condemned

Question 14

What example does Aquinas use to explain ignorance ?

Answer 14

• Aquinas says a situation where mistaken reason leads a man to sleep with another mans wife. That act is evil based on ignorance of divine law
• But if it’s clarified that the misjudgment comes from him thinking that, the women is really his own wife, then he is not blameworthy

Question 15

How does Cardinal Newman support Aquinas’ view on the conscience ?

Answer 15

Cardinal stresses obedience to ones conscience, as it is more important than anything else

‘[..] conscience first, and to the pope afterwards’