Conscience

Question 1

What is Aquinas’ theory of the conscience based on?

Answer 1

Natural law ethics.

Question 2

What is ‘telos’ in Aquinas’ theory?

Answer 2

The idea that a thing has a nature which orients it toward its natural end or good.

Question 3

According to Aquinas, how has God designed human nature?

Answer 3

To have reason, enabling us to know and follow His natural moral law.

Question 4

What gift did God give humans according to Aquinas?

Answer 4

Reason (ratio).

Question 5

What is synderesis in Aquinas’ theory?

Answer 5

A power of reason that allows us to know the primary precepts.

Question 6

What is conscientia in Aquinas’ theory?

Answer 6

The process of applying primary precepts to moral situations to figure out what we should do.

Question 7

What is the synderesis rule?

Answer 7

The tendency to do good and avoid evil.

Question 8

What does Aquinas say conscience includes?

Answer 8

Both synderesis and conscientia; it helps us achieve our telos.

Question 9

How does guilt function in Aquinas’ view?

Answer 9

Reason causes guilt when we know we’ve done something wrong.

Question 10

How does Aquinas describe the conscience’s role?

Answer 10

It ‘witnesses’, ‘binds’, and ‘torments’ us.

Question 11

What is invincible ignorance?

Answer 11

Ignorance that could not have been prevented; we are not blameworthy.

Question 12

What is vincible ignorance?

Answer 12

Ignorance that could have been prevented; we are blameworthy.

Question 13

Why is telos criticized as unscientific?

Answer 13

Science explains the universe without purpose or telos.

Question 14

Who criticized telos during the Enlightenment?

Answer 14

Francis Bacon.

Question 15

What does physicist Sean Carroll say about purpose?

Answer 15

Purpose is not part of the universe’s architecture.

Question 16

How does evolution challenge telos?

Answer 16

Empathy and morality can be explained through evolutionary advantages.

Question 17

Why is Aquinas’ theory seen as failing?

Answer 17

Science provides simpler and more powerful explanations.

Question 18

What principle supports rejecting telos?

Answer 18

Ockham’s razor – prefer simpler explanations.

Question 19

What is Freud’s view of the conscience?

Answer 19

It’s a result of how we are raised to control instincts.

Question 20

What are the three parts of the human mind according to Freud?

Answer 20

Id, Ego, and Super-ego.

Question 21

What is the Id?

Answer 21

Our unconscious animalistic instincts.

Question 22

What is the Ego?

Answer 22

Our conscious, decision-making self.

Question 23

What is the Super-ego?

Answer 23

Memory of social rules internalized during childhood.

Question 24

How does Freud explain guilt?

Answer 24

Conflict between the Id and Super-ego causes guilt.

Question 25

What does Freud’s theory avoid referencing?

Answer 25

Anything supernatural like God.

Question 26

What happens in Freud’s oral stage?

Answer 26

Babies explore the world by putting things in their mouth.

Question 27

What happens in the anal stage?

Answer 27

Children learn to control going to the toilet.

Question 28

What is the phallic stage?

Answer 28

Stage where Oedipus/Electra complex develops.

Question 29

What happens in the latency stage?

Answer 29

Gender roles and sexual control are developed.

Question 30

What is the mature genital stage?

Answer 30

Controlled sexual desires lead to love and conscience.

Question 31

What is a key criticism of Freud’s theory?

Answer 31

It is unscientific and unfalsifiable.

Question 32

Who called Freud’s theories unfalsifiable?

Answer 32

Karl Popper.

Question 33

Which psychologist supported Freud's basic idea?

Answer 33

Jean Piaget.

Question 34

What did Piaget agree with Freud on?

Answer 34

Conscience comes from socialization.

Question 35

What does modern psychology support about Freud?

Answer 35

Unconscious origins of desires and emotions.

Question 36

How does cross-cultural variation challenge Aquinas?

Answer 36

Different cultures have different moral views.

Question 37

What did Fletcher say about Aquinas and moral variation?

Answer 37

Variation undermines the idea of a universal natural law.

Question 38

What examples show moral disagreement?

Answer 38

Euthanasia laws vary across cultures.

Question 39

What do Freud and Skinner argue determines morality?

Answer 39

Social conditioning.

Question 40

How would Aquinas respond to moral differences?

Answer 40

Core values are still shared across cultures.

Question 41

What are examples of shared values?

Answer 41

Murder is wrong, reproduction and education are good.

Question 42

What could explain moral disagreement according to Aquinas?

Answer 42

Sinful and corrupt cultures, original sin.

Question 43

How does Dawkins explain shared morality?

Answer 43

Through evolution – empathy is advantageous.

Question 44

Why are shared morals not surprising scientifically?

Answer 44

Societies need basic rules to function.

Question 45

Why is conscience not necessarily God's design?

Answer 45

It can be explained by evolution and social conditioning.

Question 46

Why is Aquinas’ supernatural explanation unnecessary?

Answer 46

Science provides better, simpler explanations.

Question 47

Why is Freud’s view preferred?

Answer 47

It is simpler and fits with modern science.

Question 48

What is Aquinas’ view seen as reflecting?

Answer 48

His medieval culture, not objective morality.