conscience Flashcards
whats the natural law theory
god has designed moral law into human nature so we are naturally inclined to certain moral behaviours
whats the role of synderesis
the habit or ability of reason to discover foundational first principles of gods natural moral law
whats the synderesis rule
good is what all things seek ads their end goal
whats does synderesis rule mean
that human nature has an innate orientation to the good
some of primary precepts
worship god
-live in orderly society
-educate
-preserve life
how are primary precepts applied to actions
through act called conscientiawhat
whats the judgment we acquire from primary precepts
secondary precepts
what does conscience use
ration to understand and apply gods natural law
3 ways conscience follows application of our knowledge of naturl law to out moral actions
-witness- knowing whether we have done something or not
-bind and incite- through conscience we judge something should be done or not
-accuse- torment- rebuke- by conscience we judge something done is well or ill
how does the conscience cause guilt for aquinas
if we have done something wrong our conscience will accuse and rebuke us- causing guilt
what does mistaken in conscientia result from
original sin
-corrupt culture
-human reason fallible so conscience fallible
apparent good
only appear good to someone engaged in faulty reasoning
real goods
actions good because someones engaged in true reasoning
how is the conscience always binding
if you choose to act against your conscience you are choosing to do something you believe to be evil
what does invincible ignorance involve
someone could have not known better and cannot be blamed for their actions
vincible ignorance
someone could have known better and is to blame for their actions
aquinas to optimistic as weakness
human nature not as positive as he thinks
-slavery/ nazism
-if we have orientation to good we shouldnt be acting evil
defense of aquinas being to optimistic about human nature
-aquinas only says humans have an orientation towards good
-he doesnt say humans are doing more good than evil
descriptive moral revelavism as weakness for aquinas
there are different moral beliefs across cultures
-fletcher said proof we dont have god given reason
-freud said society which conditions moral views
whats decriptive moral relativism
different moral beliefs across cultures we know because of modern anthropology
defense of aquinas against descriptive moral relatavism
between differences theres not rules about killing or stealing
-moral thinkers from different cultures have come up with different golden rules
alternative explanation to descriptive moral relevatism
-cross culture similarities might have reusulted from biologicallt evolved morality rather than one designed by god
further alternative view to descriptive moral relevatism
might be from basic requirment for society to function
-if anyone could steak or kill for no reason society wouldnt function
-might create existential pressure in moral thinkers which leads to golden rules developed
whats the id
our unconscious animalistic desires
