a) Conscience
b) Types of consciences
c) Object of the action
d) Purpose of the action
e) Circumstances of the action
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a) Conscience
The compass is a very useful little instrument. Its needle always points towards the north and because of this we can always find our way. We all have something similar to a compass inside of us, which shows us what is right and what is wrong: our conscience.
So, our conscience is the
judge of our own actions, the (invisible) spiritual capacity which we all have lets us know, remember or even warns us if something we have done is good or bad.In order for this ability to keep us always in the right direction and judges properly, we must feed it, take care of it and respect it (a compass can get old, break or stop working). We must educate or conscience.
b) Types of conscience
Every person is different; there are no two people alike. Nonetheless, in the ways we reason, we can distinguish different groups or ways of thinking (the scrupulous person who keeps taking medication even though he is healthy, the distrustful person who thinks that the doctor is going to poison him).
There are 5 types of consciences:
-the true
one. This one judges rightfully and is right about what happened;
-the mistaken one. This one confuses bad with good, and doesn’t even know it, mistaken and they don’t
care;
-the guilty one. This one didn’t want to know the truth, whether it be for carelessness, negligence or
evilness;
-the blameless one. This one has never heard the truth and would be redeemable if given the
opportunity;
-the doubtful one. This one doesn’t know which rules to obey or how to act.
In this case, they always have to do "the lesser evil" or "the less risky".
c) The object of the action
This is the concrete action which is done. It’s independent from everything else, purpose or circumstances. And that means that an action:
-is good on its own (working well, obeying parents…),
-is bad on its own (cheating a customer, hating a sibling…).
The object of the action answers to "what" was done, and it is the most important thing which makes an action good or bad.
d) Purpose of the action
This is the intention of the person who is doing it. It isn’t the most important thing (the most important thing is what is done), thus:
-the end doesn’t justify the means,
-something doesn’t depend on the intention with which it was done.
The purpose of the action answers to "what for" and "why" something was done, and points at the desire and way of achieving it.
e) Circumstances of the action
These are the accidental elements of the action, and only take second place in the morality of the acts. They answer to:
-who did it (whether it’s the first time, or recurring…),
-where it was done (in public or in private),
-how it was done (conscientiously, under the influence of alcohol…).
On certain occasion the role which the circumstances take can indeed deeply change the account of the facts.
Mercaba Eds
Diocese of Cartagena-Murcia
General
Diagram of Mercaba's You
