Conscience

• What internal conflict does Paul express in the Bible?

  His actions conflict with his sense of right
• In whose image did God create mankind?

  In his own image
• How do some view the conscience in relation to Imago Dei?

  As an aspect of humanity made in God's image
• What did Aquinas believe about the conscience?

  It is an aspect of human reasoning
• What separates humans from God's other creations according to Aquinas?

  Our conscience
• What is the role of reason according to Aquinas?

  It enables us to make judgments
• What principle within each person encourages good actions?

  The synderesis principle
• How can one cultivate synderesis according to Aquinas?

  Through effort until it becomes a habit
• What does Aquinas say about following our consciences?

  It is wrong to go against reason
• What are the two types of ignorance according to Aquinas?

  Vincible and Invincible ignorance
• What is Vincible ignorance?

  A lack of knowledge we could address
• What happens if we act wrongly through Vincible ignorance?

  We are to blame for our actions
• What is Invincible ignorance?

  Ignorance of things we could not anticipate
• What does John Henry Newman prioritize over church teachings?

  Conscience
• What does Newman say about moral responsibility?

  It falls on our shoulders
• What does Aquinas fail to account for in moral reasoning?

  Influence of upbringing and society
• How do some view the source of conscience differently than Aquinas?

  As coming directly from God
• How does Freud view the conscience?

  As stemming from the unconscious mind
• What shapes the unconscious part of the mind according to Freud?

  Upbringing
• What are the three aspects of the human personality in Freud's theory?

  Id, ego, and super-ego
• What is the role of the ego in Freud's model?

  It manages and guides the id
• What does the id seek according to Freud?

  Pleasure and immediate gratification
• What does the super-ego store?

  Moral teachings and social rules
• How do the id, ego, and super-ego interact?

  In dynamic ways
• What does Fromm differentiate between in conscience types?

  Immature and mature conscience
• What characterizes the immature conscience?

  An unthinking response to guilt
• What characterizes the mature conscience?

  Rational thinking and decision-making
• What does Freud overlook regarding the conscience?

  Relation between conscience and God
• What does Freud dismiss without discussion?

  The concept of God
• What does Freud emphasize too much in his theories?

  Human sexuality
• What are the key concepts of Aquinas' approach to conscience?

  • Conscience as human reasoning
  • Synderesis principle encourages good
  • Duty to inform our reason
  • Vincible and Invincible ignorance
• What are Freud's views on the structure of the mind?

  • Id: seeks pleasure and gratification
  • Ego: manages the id and learns from society
  • Super-ego: stores moral teachings and rules
• What are the critiques of Aquinas and Freud's theories on conscience?

  • Aquinas: neglects societal influence
  • Freud: dismisses God and overemphasizes sexuality
• What does vincible ignorance refer to?

  Lack of knowledge for which one is responsible
• What is invincible ignorance?

  Knowledge that cannot be reasonably expected
• What is synderesis according to Aquinas?

  A natural disposition to understand morality
• What does the 'Synderesis rule' imply?

  People tend towards goodness and away from evil
• How does Aquinas define conscientia?

  Power of reason to determine good and evil
• How is conscientia similar to Aristotle's phronesis?

  Both relate to practical wisdom in action
• Why does Aquinas believe conscience can make mistakes?

  It needs to be trained to wisdom