‘The conscience should always be followed when approaching ethical decision making’. Evaluate this claim
Aquinas recognises that the conscience can make mistakes —> but how can we trust our conscience if it makes mistakes? Is there not a better ethical system to follow that guarantees no mistakes?
Freud says our conscience is the result of years of rules given by authority figures that shape our decision making —> rules are subjective. Some may say lying is okay but to others it isn’t
Fletcher says that this will result in agape love —> we cannot predict the consequences of our actions
‘The conscience has little value as a moral guide when faced with ethical decisions’. Evaluate this claim
The Bible contains stories of God speaking to people eg Moses so this is believable —> there is no way of knowing if God is speaking to us; conscience is individual
Set of internalised rules. Follows a system —> difficult to challenge values that may be wrong. If one agrees with lying they will continue to do it
Feelings of guilt help us grow —> damages people’s wellbeing and some people feel guilty for something that isn’t their fault
