Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Have a great day!
2007-11-21 22:15:05 · 21 answers · asked by Third P 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I hope that all view the link from phil8656.
Your question is controversial, but I think we're making progress. From my experience & research, I'm convinced that conscience is innate. A sociopath is BORN without conscience, & can never, ever be taught to have it. Others are BORN with conscience, & were not taught it.
The link is really interesting for anyone who is open-minded, & will find great insight.
Perhaps there will always be those who believe we're born like a blank slate, sculptured by family, society & environment. So be it.
Note: The "innate" in the link was in no way intellectualized, & I suspect therein lies the problem. Your last (?) answer. A three month old doesn't reach these equations, conclusions...
2007-11-22 14:17:48 · answer #1 · answered by Psychic Cat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Basically, the innate "you" is just another feeling. Just the same as any other feeling of "happiness" or "sadness" for example. So there will be a feeling that represents "you" and a feeling that, say, represents "happiness." Because of the relative difference between these two, there is the illusion that "you" are experiencing "happiness." When, in fact, both the "happiness" and the "you" that experiences that "happiness" are both one and the same.
If you mean the "consciousness" as being some form of "higher self" then perhaps it is to be found in your actions, rather than your thoughts and feelings...Perhaps there is an innate way of action that stands independent of any thoughts or desires, and is somehow just "automatic" and beyond "your" control. Perhaps try action without any thought? Let your body move automatically, and ignore any objections that your thoughts or feelings might have, and then see if these automatic actions lead you to any positive outcomes?
2007-11-22 08:01:47 · answer #2 · answered by driving_blindly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe so I think that a conscience is something that hopefully your parents help you develop. I think that conscience is something that you develop by learning right from wrong and in learning sympathy and empathy for others. If conscience was innate than we wouldn't have to be taught to care about what others felt and thought. We would instinctly know what was right and what was wrong. We don't it's something that we have to be taught by either our parents or in the absence of parents who can do that. We're taught by society and our peers what's acceptable and what isn't.
2007-11-24 01:04:25 · answer #3 · answered by Kathryn R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, since the conscience is a the inner sense of right and wrong, that assists us when making ethical decisions -- I would say that, yes, it is to degree, an innate faculty of reason. But it depends on outside factors, too. These are learnt through socialisation, and because man is a social animal, we act to pursue the best interests of our kind.
2007-11-23 10:46:15 · answer #4 · answered by J? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Third P.
No, I do not believe that conscience is innate.
We are born without beliefs or values. Therefore we are born without the ability to know what is wrong & what is right. Essentially, we are born without a conscience. That is something that must be developed as we grow & are taught.
We are born helpless & with many needs. We do not have the concept of helping others. All we know is what we want. If no one taught us values & morality, we would continue to be people who just think of ourselves in a selfish maner, never thinking about the needs & desires of other people.
We would grow up with no conscience at all, because no one taught us about morality. Children need to be taught right from wrong, which is basically our conscience,
Peace.
2007-11-22 11:11:50 · answer #5 · answered by palemalefriend 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think that our human abilities for sympathy and empathy are innate.
Conscience is a set of feelings that is the result of society training in which sympathy and empathy are utilized. We are trained to direct or shape our sympathies. Conscience by itself is a tool that needs to be informed by reason.
2007-11-22 06:18:44 · answer #6 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your conscience is part of the consciousness that we share with God. It is innate within us from birth but must be awakened by us. This is an important act of our own free will. So when we are exposed to someone who seems to have no conscience then what we are really seeing is someone who has not awakened their God consciousness.
2007-11-22 12:09:32 · answer #7 · answered by b_steeley 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, think about it. It is conducive to the survival of our species. (not only a moral question) We must get along, act properly and responsibility, in order to perpetuate the species. Even animals in the wild, have their own conscience and follow the laws. They are innate.
2007-11-22 06:50:26 · answer #8 · answered by Marguerite 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is being studied as we speak. Apparently even Apes are born with some Moral instincts. There are those organizations which claim to be the source, yet all they really do is try to control and manipulate conscience.
2007-11-22 11:02:05 · answer #9 · answered by phil8656 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Conscience is an ability or faculty or sense that leads to feelings of remorse when we do things that go against our moral values, or which informs our moral judgment before performing such an action. Such feelings are not intellectually reached, though they may cause us to 'examine our conscience' and review those moral precepts, or perhaps resolve to avoid repeating the behaviour.
Commonly used metaphors refer to the "voice of conscience" or "voice within."
2007-11-22 13:23:41 · answer #10 · answered by d_r_siva 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋