Is your Conscience merely Internalized Moral Restraint?

Question

If So, where do YOU think it came from. If NO please answer also. (Not Homework.)

Answer 1

I think the 'conscience' is more than merely 'moral restraint'.

I bethink that the conscience also propels us to be proactive and realize our dreams & impels us to do good things...not just 'not do' bad things.


As to what it is....its almost like we are multiple personalities and these parts of us speak, talk and 'rationalize' for their postions.

And just as we listen to/shut out our physical friends advice....we shut them down/listen to them also.

Answer 2

I would say conscience is internalized Moral Restraint. I have to say that our conscience is something we learn and develop though our life. By means of culture, and personal behaviors which we grow up. If one was to consider externalized being a part of conscience I would think you would be thinking of environmental response behaviors. We all have choice to follow the right or the wrong choice even when we know the consequences of wrong choices.

Answer 3

What's a conscience? Is that the bracelet a round my ankle, that beeps every time I walk out the door? Your conscience is partially developed by the environment you grow up in and what you choose to follow of what your parents and society has taught you. That's why in the olden days church played such a big role. Now a days you have a whole generation of unchurched kids. Which explains why so many kids are really screwed up today. Now kids learn their moral restraint from TV, video games (like Grand Theft Auto), the"street" and watching moms latest boyfriend beat the you know what out of her. And this is the future of America we are discussing here. I think I am buying a cave out west and sealing myself in.

Answer 4

Society teaches that "conscience" is some kind of internal connection to the "the absolute good." It is not. Shaming is the primary tool to instill it. Nothing good can be said about shame - its only effect is to glue one to repeated shame- producing experiences. As a consequence you are more likely to develop compensatory compulsions and addictions which NEED moral restraint.

Observation and awareness of your learned ego beliefs (including shame) that control your feelings, thoughts, and actions, will gradually lead you to self mastery and truly "being" yourself. That should be one's only goal, NOT the development of a so-called "conscience."

Answer 5

I believe right and wrong are pre-wired into most of us.

For instance, if you injured someone and heard them scream in agony, would you have needed the lessons of society to tell you to stop injuring that person?

Answer 6

No. It come to the fore when we are at odds with our personal value system which is not necessarily moral.

Answer 7

change ' restraint ' to 'regulator' and the meaning is flawless