Types of Conscience

A. Correct Conscience sees the good as good, the evil as evil. It comes from
enlightenment; from refined moral sensibility, or from the habit of doing good.
The correct conscience is the result of sound upbringing, education, good habits,
and intelligent laws.

B. Erroneous Conscience sees evil as something good. Erroneous conscience comes

from malice, ignorance, bad habits, and bad influence.

C. Doubtful Conscience is a vacillating conscience, unsure of itself.

D. Scrupulous Conscience is overly cautious, meticulous, and fearful of committing a

mistake.

E. Lax Conscience is indifferent, unmindful of right or wrong.

Compulsory Conscience

“Our bond with the natural moral law” writeBernanrd Haring, “is an exalted participation
in the eternal law of God manifested by our conscience whose natural function it is to
reveal our likeness to God”.

When conscience operates in the realm of truth and sound reason, it is compulsory to
listen to it. It is only when conscience urges us to act according to our rational insights
that it is aptly the “voice of God”. But when conscience deviates from the norm and urges
us to do what is unreasonable, it is “our own evil work”.

Conformity and Non-conformity

The conformity or non-conformity of a human act with the norms constitutes morality.
We recall the definition of Aristotle of the good as that which fits the function. For
example, it fits the function of a talented singer to sing well. Similarly, it fits the function
of a decent and honorable person to do what is honorable.

The same may be said of evil actions. Some actions do not fit the dignity and nobility of
man as man. Like the junk food does not fit the health of a person, immoral acts do not fit
the human soul.
Formal and Material Norms

Formal norms relate to formation of character, what kind of person we ought to be. These
consist of such directives towards character development, such as “be honest”, “be
direct”, “be respectful”, etc. (Example: Being respectful to parent is explicit at all times)
The directives of formal norms are permanent and unchangeable because they are the
requirements of natural law.

Material norms relate to actions, what actions we ought to do. Material norms are
determined whether an act on account of its nature conforms or does not conform with
the formal norms. The directives of material norms are temporary and changeable
because they are the result of rational evaluation.

Moral Relativism

Moral relativism is possible because the human mind, being finite and limited, does not
always grasp the moral significance of certain acts or event. Thus, debates would
continue on whether death penalty, divorce, abortion, gay marriage, or euthanasia is
morally permissible. Moral relativism is also descriptive of cultural difference.

However, there are absolute truths and principles of morals. Man seeks the good that fits
his nature is a universally accepted truth. That“do to others what you want others do to
you” and do not do unto others what you don’t want others do to you” is a universally
accepted truth. That man deserves to be punished for his evil deeds is yet another
universally accepted truth. The trouble is that people may not agree how these truths
apply.

Physicalism vs. Personalism

Physicalism suggest that the physical and biological nature of man determines morality.
Morality is in accordance with the natural order in the universe. Anything opposed to
man’s physical, physiological, or biological tendencies is wrong and immoral.

Personalism suggests that reason is the standard for moral judgment. Right reason, or
“recta ratio”, is the dynamic tendency in the human person to know the truth, to grasp the
whole reality as it is. Morality is in accordance with the order of reason, or the dictate of
reason.