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
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 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
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 2. Essential Definitions
 2.1. Conscience is a judgment of
human reason
 concerning the moral goodness of

evil of one’s 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
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 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.
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 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
 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;
 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 3.2. Erroneous
 – it mistakenly judges something good
to be evil, and something evil to be
good. It may result from a malformation
of one’s 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.
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 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
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 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.
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 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: