CONSCIENCE

1. Popular Definitions
Conscience is derived from three Latin words
cum alia scientia. This means the application
of knowledge to a specific individual.
1.1. A little voice within.

In the popular mind of Filipinos, conscience is

understood as that little voice within (tinig ng
budhi) which tells us whether we have done right
or wrong.
Perhaps more importantly, this little voice tells us
whether the decision we are considering or
contemplating to do is a good one or a bad one.
This definition places the role of conscience before
an act is done [CFC: 701].

CONSCIENCE

1.2. An indicator of joy or guilt.

In relation to the above-mentioned definition,
conscience is also understood as a place
within us where we feel a sense of joy and
contentment when we act rightly, and a
sense of disquiet and guilt if we act wrongly.
At times, popular definitions like these are
useful as starting points, but they are not
very accurate, and they do not adequately
distinguish conscience from other factors
with which it can easily be confused [R.
Padilla, 1993: 55-56].

CONSCIENCE

2. Essential Definitions

2.1. Conscience is a judgment of

human reason
concerning the moral goodness of evil of
ones action.
It is not a separate faculty from the
intellect. Rather, it is an act of the
human intellect regarding an action with
respect to the morality of that action.
Since it is an act of judgment, it
considers a choice between what is right
or wrong [R. Padilla, 1993: 55-56].

CONSCIENCE

2.2. Conscience is an ultimate,

practical judgment on the morality
of a concrete action, commanding to
do what is good and to avoid what is
evil.

It is called a practical judgment

because it is related to praxis (concrete
practice or action) of the moral activity.

CONSCIENCE

Conscience goes into action when

the following are to be judged:
2.2.1. The morality of an action or a
concrete line of conduct (which a person
wants to do or has already done), and
2.2.2. Its corresponding moral
obligation (consequences) in the concrete
situation [K. Peschke, 1996: 172-173].

The object, therefore, of conscience is always

the morality of the action and the
corresponding obligation.

Types of Conscience

Moralists present the types of conscience

differently. For purposes of our study, we will
present the types of conscience by division.

1.Antecedent or Consequent Conscience

1.1. Antecedent Conscience if the judgment
on the morality of an action is done even before a
particular action is performed. The antecedent
conscience functions in either of the following:

It exhorts gives advice or warning;

It permits allows one to proceed;
It forbids prohibits one from doing an act because it is
evil.

Types of Conscience

1.2. Consequent Conscience if it

evaluates an act already committed or
omitted. The consequent conscience functions
in either of the following:

It approves affirmation of the goodness of an act;

It excuses gives a reason, for example for doing
or not doing an act;
It reproves negates the presence of goodness in
an act;
It accuses points a finger to the doer of the evil
act.

Types of Conscience

2.Certain or Doubtful Conscience

2.1. Certain Conscience

a conscience is certain if it passes judgment

without fear of error. Thus, a person who is
convinced he has paid the PhP 500.00 he owed from
a friend has a certain conscience.

2.2. Doubtful Conscience

if it is uncertain about the morality of an act.

Thus, a person who cannot determine whether
letting his wife die by pulling the plug has a
doubtful conscience. This conscience suspends
judgment; or it passes judgment with the fear of
committing an error.

Types of Conscience

3.Right or Erroneous Conscience

3.1. Right
it presents good as good and evil as
evil. The practical moral judgment
agrees or disagrees with the objective
norms of morality.
A person who decides not to take home
office items without the permission of
the authority has a right conscience.

Types of Conscience

3.2. Erroneous
it mistakenly judges something good to
be evil, and something evil to be good. It
may result from a malformation of ones
conscience due to ignorance (both
invincible ignorance and vincible
ignorance) or wrong information.
Thus, a student who feels justified to
spread slanderous remarks about a fellow
student who has previously done the same
to her acts with an erroneous conscience.

Types of Conscience

4. Lax, Scrupulous, and Tender Conscience

4.1. Lax it is inclined to judge something to be

lawful that which is sinful, or something to be a light
sin that which is grave.
A person with a lax conscience sometimes becomes
persuaded that great sins are permissible. They find
excuses for grave misconduct.
Such people begin by rationalizing minor faults,
until their conscience becomes dull and incapable of
proper decision. Such is the act of a psychologist
who reveals a very serious professional secret about
a patient to some lay people and considers the
disclosure a mere small talk.

Types of Conscience

4.2. Scrupulous Conscience it sees evil

where there is none.
4.3. Tender Conscience it is sometimes
called delicate conscience because it forms
correct judgment with comparison even in
matters which involve a fine distinction.
Such a conscience is developed by many
sincere people. In achieving this desirable
goal, the guidance of a regular confessor or
spiritual director is of tremendous value.

Types of Conscience

Conscience is an infallible guide in each

individual.
If we act according to our conscience, we
are acting rightly whether or not we have
received training in morals or ethics.
Therefore, goodwill and sincerity are
more important that a thorough
knowledge of moral or ethical principles
[K. Peschke, 1996: 158-187; R. Padilla,
1993:56-62; CFC: 195-198].