2.2.2
Fletcher's Concept of Conscience
Fletcher's Situation Ethics - Conscience
Fletcher's Situation Ethics - Conscience
Conscience is a verb rather than a noun. It is something you do when you make decisions, as Fletcher puts it, ‘creatively.’
The definition of conscience
The definition of conscience
- Conscience describes the weighing up of the possible decision before it is taken.
- For example, the process of weighing up whether to have an abortion or not.
- A hypothetical example: you are living in Nazi Germany during World War II. Do you inform the Gestapo that there are Jewish people hiding in your neighbours' loft, ultimately obeying the law but putting their lives in danger, or do you deny any knowledge to the Gestapo - you would weigh up the decision in your conscience.
Aquinas' definition of conscience
Aquinas' definition of conscience
- Peter Vardy points out that Aquinas’s definition of conscience comes closest to the truth - but it is in no sense a separate faculty.
- Aquinas’ definition is that the conscience is ‘reason seeking understanding’.
What conscience is NOT
What conscience is NOT
- Intuition.
- A channel for Divine Guidance.
- The internalised values of the individual’s culture.
- The part of reason that makes value judgements.
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
Jump to other topics
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
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