March 27, 2007
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Consciousness and Conscience - Is there A Relationship?
One of the questions for discussion at Socrates_Cafe this week is: What is the relationship between consciousness and conscience?
At first glance it might seem that the two are not very closely related; after all consciousness refers to awareness and sensibility of a person, their inward thoughts and feelings leading to self-awareness.
Conscience, on the other hand, is the personal recognition of right and wrong - the faculty which enjoins a person to apply a moral code to his actions.
Somewhere in these two definitions you are likely to come upon a phrase similar to this:
"The moral consciousness of a Nation"
Oh My! Is National consciousness somehow related to morality? National Morality?
Let's talk for a minute about the present state of morality in America.
We have a fairly strong moral code which we continuously berate ourselves for not adhering to rigorously enough.
There seem to be built-in conflicts in this moral code, which we've discussed here many times. The present political conflict regarding Iraq is in all the headlines today (and probably will be for the foreseeable future). Congress and state legislatures are debating the morality of Abortion, Stem Cell research, Homosexuality, et al. Church amplifiers ring with denouncements of the same subjects - and many more.
Is there a relationship between consciousness and conscience? You bet there is - and it impacts you every day of your life.
What responsibility do citizens have in this area? How should they make their moral choices? What should be the base of these moral choices?
Comments (7)
I think this one is a bit over my head. Sorry.
RYC ~ Why am I so keen to punish criminals? Good question. I'm not the one who created the law. I suppose we could just pat them on the head and give them a treat and let them go rape someone else, murder someone else, steal something else, etc. That might be a better solution, wouldn't it?
Or maybe the question I should ask, is "Why are some people so keen on *not* punishing criminal behavior?"
interesting post.
Why do you think it happens that a person's personal recognition of right and wrong can become so different from the social norm?
Marie: Is the purpose of the criminal justice system punishment or the protection of society? Probably in our system, both; but which is primary and which would you sacrifice for the other?
Zeal: It depends on who you ask. Psychologists tend to go on about childhood problems, Preachers may talk about evil influences or even possession (the devil made me do it), The police may mention social influences, neurologists talk about brain abnormalities. Take your pick.
Which do you think is the most important reason?
Maybe it varies and all of these can be factors, if that's true, why are so many of us law-abiding, even after terrible traumas and influences?
Hi! RYC:
I, unfortunately, am forming a bleak view of government (not sure if it is government in general, or just American, or just Current American) and I would suggest that maybe the "No Child Left Behind" act was meant to fail. It certainly wasnt thought out very carefully. I agree with you when you say it was a failure at the very least and wonder why it still exists. Again, it was meant to serve us, it doesnt, so why do we still have it siphoning funds that could be put to better use. Is the government ever audited, it seems not. Why not?
Brianne
Hello there! This blog post could not be written any better! Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept preaching about this. I will send this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!