Conscience as the Source of Morality: An Analysis in Terms of Western Philosophy

Abstract

The concept of conscience is an ancient phenomenon closely linked to the process of self-awareness within the inner world of the human being. A systematic presentation of philosophical discussions on the concept of conscience up to the present day is of great significance for clarifying the question of the origin of morality, moral judgments, and the subjectivity or objectivity of values. The study examines the notion of conscience in the context of Western philosophy, provides a comparative analysis of the main approaches of Western philosophers to the concept of conscience from metaphysical, ontological, and ethical perspectives, while also evaluating the problem within metaphysical, theological, psychological, and sociological contexts. According to the article’s central thesis, the two “I” metaphors in Euripides’ tragedy Orestes constitute the earliest examples of the concept of conscience. The second thesis of the article argues that philosophical debates on conscience in Western thought can be classified into two main categories. The first regards conscience as an innate, inner faculty with metaphysical, psychological, epistemological, and volitional dimensions. The second view considers conscience a learned attribute, formed through the knowledge and experience gained in social life. In conclusion, conscience is presented as a complex and multidimensional mechanism that unites cognitive, emotional, and volitional functions in a person’s moral life and compels the individual to choose between good and evil, truth and falsehood.