Essay Question: Is conscience linked to, or separate from, reason and the unconscious mind? Flashcards
(16 cards)
Introduction
The nature of conscience has long been debated by philosophers, theologians and psychologists.
This essay explores whether conscience is best understood as a rational process, as Aquinas claims, or as a function of the unconscious mind, as Freud argues.
For Aquinas, conscience is inseparably linked to reason (ratio), functioning through a divinely given human capacity to discern moral law.
In contrast, Freud saw conscience as a psychological construct derived from unconscious mechanisms shaped by childhood experiences and socialisation.
LOA
This essay will argue that conscience is best understood as linked to the unconscious mind, not reason, due to the stronger scientific basis of Freud’s theory and the explanatory weaknesses of Aquinas’ concept of telos.
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Paragraph 1: Aquinas – Conscience as Linked to Reason
Paragraph 1: Aquinas – Conscience as Linked to Reason
AO1 – Aquinas’ theory:
• Aquinas’ theory of conscience is grounded in his Natural Law Ethics.
• God designed human nature with a telos (purpose): to follow divine moral law.
• Humans are equipped with reason (ratio), allowing them to access and apply God’s natural moral law.
• Synderesis: a power of reason that lets us know the primary precepts (preserve life, reproduce, educate, live in society, worship God).
• Conscientia: the application of synderesis to specific moral situations—how secondary precepts are formed.
• The synderesis rule: “do good, avoid evil” — conscience is the full process of synderesis + conscientia.
• Guilt arises when our reason identifies wrongdoing; Aquinas describes conscience as something that “witnesses, binds, and torments”.
He distinguishes between:
• Vincible ignorance: ignorance that could be overcome (culpable).
• Invincible ignorance: ignorance that could not be overcome (non-culpable).
Paragraph 1: Aquinas – Conscience as Linked to Reason
AO2 – Evaluation of Aquinas:
Critique 1 - Telos is unscientific
• Francis Bacon and Enlightenment thinkers rejected Aristotle’s telos as unfalsifiable and lacking empirical support.
• Modern physics (e.g. Sean Carroll) claims the universe is composed of energy and atoms—no room for intrinsic purpose.
• Human empathy and altruism can be better explained through evolution, particularly in herd species.
Paragraph 1: Aquinas – Conscience as Linked to Reason
AO2 – Evaluation of Aquinas:
Critique 2 - Ockhams razor
Critique 2 – Ockham’s Razor:
• Scientific explanations (e.g., empathy via evolution) are simpler and more evidence-based than metaphysical concepts like God-given telos.
• Therefore, Aquinas’ theory lacks explanatory necessity.
Paragraph 1: Aquinas – Conscience as Linked to Reason
AO2 – Evaluation of Aquinas:
• Critique 3 – Cross-cultural variation:
Fletcher: If reason enables everyone to know the primary precepts, we should expect universal moral agreement, which is clearly false.
Major cultural differences in views on topics like euthanasia or marriage equality suggest morality is shaped more by culture and conditioning than reason and telos.
Aquinas responds that core values (e.g., value of life, reproduction) are shared, but this may be due to evolutionary pressures and the practical needs of stable societies, not divine law.
Paragraph 1: Aquinas – Conscience as Linked to Reason
Evaluation Summary
While Aquinas presents a coherent link between conscience and reason, his theory falters due to its reliance on unscientific metaphysical assumptions and its inability to explain moral disagreement without appealing to original sin.
His medieval context likely shaped his view more than objective reasoning.
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Paragraph 2: Freud – Conscience as Linked to the Unconscious Mind
Paragraph 2: Freud – Conscience as Linked to the Unconscious Mind
A01- Freud’s theory
Freud argues conscience arises from the unconscious mind, not reason.
• Human psyche consists of:
• Id (instincts and desires),
• Ego (conscious rational self),
• Superego (internalised moral rules learned during childhood).
• Conscience emerges from the interaction between these structures:
E.g., Id wants food during class, Superego says no, Ego feels guilt if the Id is obeyed.
Conscience is a psychological mechanism, not divine reason.
Freud’s psycho-sexual development outlines stages where conscience forms:
• Oral – interaction through the mouth.
• Anal – toilet training and control.
• Phallic – Oedipus/Electra complex and gender identity.
• Latency – development of repression and gender roles.
• Genital – mature sexual control and full conscience development.
Paragraph 2: Freud – Conscience as Linked to the Unconscious Mind
A02 - Evaluation of Freud
• Critique 1 – Lack of scientific rigour:
• Freud did not conduct controlled experiments; relied on a narrow clinical sample.
• Popper criticised Freud as “unfalsifiable”, not meeting scientific standards.
Paragraph 2: Freud – Conscience as Linked to the Unconscious Mind
A02 - Evaluation of Freud
Critique 2 - Defence through modern psychology
• Despite criticisms, Jean Piaget, a more empirically rigorous psychologist, defended Freud’s core idea: conscience arises from childhood socialisation.
• Modern psychology supports Freud’s claim that many moral emotions arise unconsciously.
• Thus, even if Freud’s methods were flawed, his core thesis remains influential and scientifically supported.
Paragraph 2: Freud – Conscience as Linked to the Unconscious Mind
A02 - Evaluation of Freud
• Critique 3 – Cross-cultural support:
• Freud’s view explains moral variation across cultures as the result of differing social conditioning.
• This aligns with findings from psychology and anthropology.
• There is no need for a supernatural or rationalist explanation if social conditioning and evolution suffice.
Paragraph 2: Freud – Conscience as Linked to the Unconscious Mind
Evaluation Summary:
Freud’s theory, though methodologically flawed in places, is more aligned with contemporary science. His account of conscience as unconscious and conditioned is better supported empirically and explains both universal behaviours and cultural diversity in morality.
Paragraph 2: Freud – Conscience as Linked to the Unconscious Mind
Conclusion
Line of Argument
Freud’s approach, while unscientific in origin, has been vindicated by later psychological research supporting the role of unconscious and social factors in shaping moral awareness.
The scientific and cross-cultural credibility of Freud’s position makes it a more compelling and parsimonious explanation. Therefore, conscience is best understood as separate from reason and linked instead to the unconscious mind.
