Atheists, is the conscience just "added baggage", as one poster claimed?

Answer 1

thumbs up to Bajingo

Answer 2

A conscience is a function of a healthy mind. Someone with no conscience usually has some kind of psychological disorder that impacts themselves, their environment and others in negative ways. I've taught profoundly autistic kids with this disorder and they many had no concept of empathy or moral boundaries except the ones imposed upon them by force, i.e., confinement or removal.

A conscience would not be added 'baggage' for these kids, it would be the replacement of a mental tool that they lack, and one that enables them to form meaningful relationships between themselves and the outside world, other people etc.

That's like asking if 'sight' is baggage, except worse, because blind people aren't socially dysfunctional or crazy!

A religious 'conscience' is often placed there by fear, by force. That, to me, is not a 'real' conscience.

Answer 3

I'm not sure exactly what a "conscience" is in reality. I know that we think we have one and what we think it does, but I'm not convinced that it is a separate mechanism from being able to evaluate a situation and determine a good course of action i.e in thinking ahead in a game and "predicting" the possible outcomes or in looking back to see what you could've done better.

Additionally a conscience seems to be aligned with your moral system, I doubt that those cultures that embrace polygamy feel guilty about it, as an example.

Answer 4

As an atheistic satanist, I see guilt as added baggage, but conscience is merely a guide to more sociable behavior. I read the post you're talking about, and that's fairly typical of someone so enslaved to their religion they honestly don't understand that people can be "good" without agreeing with them.

Answer 5

If you have any consience you have some good in you - how much conscience conflicts with the event compared to feelings you might have about society is where the baggage comes in. When put on the spot you cannot hide who you are.
Did I say too much - you can hide an event but rarely do you put enough thought into it to hide your orientation or 'self'.

Answer 6

It's only added baggage if you let it run your life to the point where you can't make a decision without agonizing over it. A conscience is a good thing to have - it's a tool to help you but if you forget how to use it then it is burdensome.

Answer 7

Of course not. The basic principles of morality (and the foundation of the part of our mind that considers such issues) is universality. I don't like being stabbed in the back so I would not do that to someone else. I would not like someone to steal my things, therefore I do not steal from other people.

Only people ignorant enough to need a magical policeman to make them behave would consider a conscience as baggage. I consider it essential to any well rounded, decent human being.

Answer 8

It a form of conditioning... what you were told over and over as a child was wrong.... such as stealing... you feel a guilty feeling when you steal because you have been raised being told it is wrong... so in a way... it is alittle bit added baggage...

Answer 9

Behaving in society is necessary for the survival of the species. It was instilled through evolution. Only a psychotic would have no conscience.

Answer 10

The conscience has allowed humans to work together, to live as social beings. Without it, we'd have been eaten long ago.

Answer 11

I don't think I'd call it "baggage". But it is damned inconvenient sometimes.