Conscience

Abstract

Conscience is one of the most often used words, not only in the theological and philosophical circles, but also in ordinary conversational language. We hear about the freedom and dignity of conscience, the right and duty to follow one=s conscience, the demands of conscience, the need to examine our conscience, the
necessity to inform our conscience, and so on. In the popular language, conscience is often used as a synonym for morality itself. Yet, it is a very difficult task to define what conscience. At the same time we all know that we have conscience. It is clear that we all have certain >principles= in life; we always try to hold on to them. When there is the need of a decision, we feel that there is something in us that tries to discern or evaluate the different sides of the act about which we have to decide. In certain moments we find it very difficult to decide what we should. Or, when we do something wrong, we feel that something inside us disturbs us and when we do something good we are encouraged and are appreciated by our inner self. Or, we know that we do or do not do things because something in us has commanded us to do so or not to do. When we use the word conscience, somehow we refer to all these, at least vaguely — that it refers to some principles or attitudes or a basic capacity that we have, that it is a process of discernment, that it is a decision and its evaluation.