Page 4 - COURSE INQUIRY PROJECT - GROUP 4

E X P L O R E | C O N S C I E N C E

Related Literature

Conscience can be described as internalised values: a
person’s intuitive ‘moral compass.’ While rational,
philosophical, or religious arguments are often used

as justifications, conscience itself is primarily
emotional: we associate feelings of pleasure and pride
with right action, and feelings of guilt and shame with
wrong action. These emotions help to motivate choices

and behaviour, playing an important role in the
maintenance and transformation of social norms. In
many ways, the norms of society are the sum of our
collective values and priorities – as society shapes us,

we shape society.

AQUINAS ON CONSCIENCE
According to Aquinas, conscience is the way human

beings understand how to apply what they know.
Based on Aquinas’ view, conscience is erring and can
cause misguidance. Then, people can either be guilty
through vincible ignorance or not guilty through

invincible ignorance when their conscience “gets it
wrong”.

IMPORTANCE OF CONSCIENCE
Every day, we encounter different types of people in

different situations that life may place upon us. There
are times where we do not understand how a person
thinks, and so, we simply engage with them the way
we engage with others. Talking to people comes with

a risk that you will say something that they may take
offense to. Being able to realize and be aware of
these possible problems is made possible through
your conscience.