Conscience as Man’s Guide to Moral Acts

Prepared by: Reo Paolo M. Uri

CONCEPT AND NATURE OF CONSCIENCE

Meaning of Conscience

The word conscience is derived from the Latin Word cum (together) and scientia (to know). Ethymologically speaking, therefore, conscience can be translated as “to know together” or “to know with”.

According to Babor (1999: 171), the word conscience is taken from the latin phrase “com alia scientia,” which is English, would roughly translate to “man’s application of knowledge “or “acting with knowledge.”

Karl Peschke defines conscience as the “moral faculty which tells people subjectively what is good and evil and which manifests their moral obligation to them “(1985:203). He also likens conscience to a sign post or some sort of a marker on the road where people as travelers are guided and directed-for them to be able to reach their goal and destination.

But according to him, the same presence of this signpost would not suffice to truly aid people on their journey. People still need a “sense” to perceive the sign of signs. “[T] o select from among them the relevant ones, and also help them where there are none” (Peschke 1985:203). This particular “sense” according to him, is a person’s conscience.

Hence, in order for man to arrive at his final and ultimate end as a moral agent (with intellect and will) he needs the guiding light of this moral faculty as he conducts himself in conformity with the objective norm of morality. It is through the use of conscience whereby man can discern within himself (subjectively) what is good that he has to do and what is bad that he must avoid, which, in turn, form his moral obligation to himself. To others and to God which is his final and ultimate end.

Moreover, conscience is considered as the second norm of morality. It is the immediate and practical subjective norm that man employs to render moral verdict on a given situation. “ It is [his] moral tool… to pass judgment on actions and things “ (Gualdo 2000: 53). Thus, when faced with a particular moral dilemma, man then makes use of conscience to know what ought to be done and avoid with such a situation.

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