Ethics Terminology Part 1

Conscience Related Terminologies

Conscience (Voice of Conscience)

·         What it is: Your conscience is like a little voice inside your head that helps you decide what is right and wrong.

·         Example: When you find a lost wallet, your conscience might tell you it's the right thing to do to return it to the owner.

Moral Intuition

·         What it is: It's your natural sense or gut feeling about what's right or wrong, even if you can't explain it logically.

·         Example: You might have a moral intuition that it's wrong to harm animals, even if you can't list all the reasons why.

Moral Reasoning

·         What it is: Moral reasoning is when you think carefully (appropriateness) and logically about what's right or wrong in a specific situation.

·         Example: Let's say you witness a classmate cheating on a test. To apply moral reasoning, you might consider the consequences of reporting or not reporting the cheating. You think about how it would affect the cheater, the integrity of the class, and your own sense of right and wrong. This thought process helps you make a moral decision about whether to report the cheating or not.

Moral Courage:

·         What it is: Moral courage means being brave enough to do what you believe is right, even if it's difficult or others disagree.

·         Example: Speaking up against bullying takes moral courage because you're standing up for what's right, even if it's not easy.

Moral Corruption:

·         What it is: Moral corruption happens when someone does things that go against their sense of what's right.

·         Example: Consider a police officer who initially joined the force with a strong belief in justice and fairness. Over time, she becomes involved in illegal activities, such as taking bribes and covering up crimes. This is called moral corruption because her actions conflict with her sense of duty and integrity.

Crisis of Conscience:

·         What it is: A crisis of conscience that arises from the feeling of guilt experienced after engaging in actions that go against one's moral values or principles, typically resulting in a deep internal conflict.

·         Example: Consider a politician who starts off with strong ethical principles but becomes involved in corrupt practices over time. They accept bribes and engage in dishonest dealings. After a while, this politician begins to feel an overwhelming sense of guilt and moral conflict. They know their actions are wrong and contradict their initial values. This feeling of guilt and internal turmoil is a crisis of conscience brought on by the moral corruption they've been involved in. It forces them to decide whether to continue down that path or find a way to make amends and return to their moral principles.

Alternate definition of Crisis of Conscience

·         What it is: A crisis of conscience occurs when you're faced with a tough moral decision, and it's very hard to know what the right thing to do is.

·         Example: Imagine you have to decide whether to tell the truth about something that could get a friend in trouble. This can lead to a crisis of conscience because it's a difficult moral choice.