Ethics for Life Chapter 3- Conscience and Moral Development

Judaism's view on the Conscience

"When our conscience is not at one with the actions of our body, then our worship of our Creator is imperfect"

Determinism and Moral Responsibility

Determinists claim that there is no such thing as conscious moral direction. We are nothing more than products of our environment or our genetic inheritance; therefore, we are no more to blame for our behavior than a computer would be

Carl Jung

believed that morality is a basic law of consciousness, similar to what the Buddhists and Hindus believe.

Metta

Buddhist term for universal compassion

Autonomous Moral Reasoning

the exercise of the conscience demands active participation of our part through the use of conscience and responsible deliberation

Three Main Factors that Contribute to the Shaping of our Conscience

1) Heredity or biological factors. 2) Learning or environmental factors and 3) Conscious moral direction

Ahimsa

Indian philisophical term for universal compassion

Agape

Term in Christianity for universal compassion.

"Helper's high"

The positive effect we experience when helping others "we behave justly not only because it is the right thing to do but because of the positive effect it has upon us"- Plato

Compassion

a more active form of sympathy is the combination of sympathy with praxis or social action

Affective Conscience

conscience includes moral sentiments or feelings such as sympathy, "helper's high," moral outrage, and guilt.

Learning or Environmental

cultural norms, our family, and our experiences. Sometimes, however cultural norms run contrary to the basic demands of morality.

Plato

defined conscience as an activity of the soul that directs us toward the good. Acting in accordance with conscience or reason is thus essential to our functioning as human beings. A human without conscience, according to Plato, is not a person and lacks moral standing in the community. Those who are moral reasoners or cultural relativists in particular, may describe their conscience as a voice coming from outside of them-from God, or their parents, or society.

Sociopaths

generally intelligent, rational and outwardly normal. However they have a deficit in the affective, or emotional side of their brain. They can mimic emotions such as sympathy, guilt and moral indignation but apparently, they do not actually feel them. They can lie, cheat and even kill without feeling the slightest remorse.

Moral Character

having certain personality traits such as courage, perseverance and high self esteem that predispose us to act morally

Conscious Moral Direction

involves active deliberation and accepting responsibility of our moral decisions.

Guilt

is a moral sentiment that occurs when we violate a moral norm Not only demands that we accept moral responsibility for our actions but that we make reparation to those we have harmed and, if necessary, change ourselves to make a repeat of the harmful behavior less likely

Moral Development

is important because otherwise we are likely to simply follow cultural norms, even when they are destructive

Sympathy

is the capacity for the inclination to imagine the feelings of others expresses itself as both tenderness and joy at another's happiness and sadness or indignation at another's misfortune or mistreatment Without sympathy, true intimacy and genuine "sense of community" would be impossible.

Cognitive Conscience

moral reasoning conscience

Practical Morality

motivations and a sense of obligation

Hereditary or Biological Factors

natural virtues such as sympathy and a sense of justice. The frontal lobes of the brain appear to play a critical role in conscience.

Moral Outrage

occurs when we witness a violation or transgression of the boundaries of moral decency (resentment and moral indignation are the two forms)

Moral Motivation

placing moral values above competing nonmoral values

Conscience

provides knowledge about right and wrong, motivates us to do what is right, and demands that we act in accord with it. involves reason, critical thinking, and feeling

Theoretical Morality

reasoning and judgment dissociated from actual deeds or any need to act.

Moral Reasoning or Judgment

the ability to make critical judgments regarding moral values and various courses of action.

Moral Indignation

the anger we feel at the sight of others being harmed (form of moral outrage)

Resentment

the anger we feel when we have been personally injured (form of moral outrage)

Moral Sensitivity

the awareness of how our actions affect others. It involves the ability to empathize and imagine ourselves in another person's shoes.

Shame

violation of social norms leaves us feeling inadequate, embarrassed, and humiliated before others.