What is conscience as an act of the intellect?

Conscience is a cognitive process that elicits emotion and rational associations based on an individual’s moral philosophy or value system. In common terms, conscience is often described as leading to feelings of remorse when a person commits an act that conflicts with their moral values.

What defines freewill?

free will, in humans, the power or capacity to choose among alternatives or to act in certain situations independently of natural, social, or divine restraints. Free will is denied by some proponents of determinism.

What is the importance of conscience?

A conscience which is both well formed (shaped by education and experience) and well informed (aware of facts, evidence and so on) enables us to know ourselves and our world and act accordingly. Seeing conscience in this way is important because it teaches us ethics is not innate.

Where is conscience in the brain?

Researchers have long thought that it resides somewhere in the cortex – the outer layer of the brain – but no one has been able to pinpoint where. The Harvard team identified not only the specific brainstem region linked to arousal, but also two cortex regions, that all appear to work together to form consciousness.

What is human freedom in ethics?

Human freedom as a right is the inherent, essential and inalienable right of man and provides within the framework of knowledge a person possesses. Freedom can be described as a situation of behaving of people as a moral agent according to their own preferences and rational decisions.

What is the value of conscience?

Conscience calls the person to love and do good, and seeks the truth about what is to be done in a particular situation. It reflects on the good involved, the circumstances of the personal decision, and the way in which human dignity is promoted. Conscience makes a prayerful judgement about what is to be done.

Why is moral conscience important?

The moral conscience is considered the proximate norm of conduct because it is the immediate source of information guiding human actions. It directs human actions so that a person can transcend his animal instincts and human inclinations.