Conscience Related Terminologies

Conscience

Conscience is our inner sense of right and wrong. It acts like a moral compass that helps us judge whether our actions are morally good or bad.

·         Example: If a civil servant is offered a bribe to approve a project, their conscience might make them feel uneasy or guilty, stopping them from accepting it.

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Voice of Conscience

The voice of conscience is the strong inner voice or feeling that urges you to do the right thing, especially during moral conflict.

·         Example: During the partition of India, many officers followed orders blindly. But IAS officer S.P. Sharma, posted in Punjab, refused to obey an unjust order to kill refugees. His voice of conscience didn’t allow him to commit a wrong, even under pressure.

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Moral Intuition

It is the quick, gut feeling about whether something is right or wrong, without deep thinking. It is instinctive and often influenced by values, upbringing, or emotions.

·         Example: If a teacher sees a student being bullied, they instinctively feel it is wrong and step in to stop it. That feeling is moral intuition.

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Moral Reasoning

Moral reasoning is when we think carefully about ethical issues, weigh options, consider consequences, and then decide what is morally right.

·         Example: Suppose a civil servant has to cut down a forest for a development project. Instead of acting emotionally, they analyze the pros and cons — economic benefit vs. environmental harm - and try to find an ethical solution. This is moral reasoning.

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Moral Courage

Moral courage is the strength to stand up for what is right, even when it is unpopular, risky, or might lead to personal loss.

·         Example: Whistleblower Satyendra Dubey, an Indian Engineering Service (IES) officer, exposed corruption in the Golden Quadrilateral project. He showed moral courage by standing against powerful forces, even though it cost him his life.

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Moral Corruption

Moral corruption is when a person knowingly acts unethically for selfish gain — like lying, cheating, or abusing power, ignoring what is right.

·         Example: A government officer who approves fake bills or diverts funds meant for poor people is engaging in moral corruption, even if it’s legally covered up.

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Crisis of Conscience:

      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.

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Alternate definition of Crisis of Conscience

     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.

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Moral Policing

Moral policing is when individuals or groups try to enforce their personal moral beliefs on others, often through force or without legal authority.

·         Example: Harassing people for their dress or lifestyle, or attacking film actors for "hurting sentiments" — all are examples of moral policing.