The Importance Of Conscience And Factors Influencing It

In a world where everything is becoming increasingly goal-orientated: what are your short- and long-term goals? How much progress have you made? Have the outcomes been addressed? It’s easy to forget to pause to consider the implications of our actions. We, as a society, assume that it’s okay to act like Robin Hood, our quintessential hero of doing something that’s a little bit immoral, stealing from the rich, for the greater purpose of aiding the poor. So, very often do we find ourselves sacrificing our morality for a more important objective. If you look around, you’ll notice how over the past years we have an increase in the number of crimes associated with attaining large sums or success: smuggling, burglary, fraud etc. We have billionaires behind bars, politicians like ex-minister Gordon Nuttall trialled for corruption, in summary, because people desire more power.

But is such the ‘side effect’ of our industrious mindset, or is there a more complex reason for this negative consequence? It’s clear that our driven dispositions have been the reason for the advancement of our society. For example, the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States brought ground-breaking technological and scientific improvements, and our developments in medicine such as the creation of vaccines have enhanced living standards considerably. Ultimately, it’s us setting ourselves a direction and destination which has allowed us to prosper. So, should we just accept that the cost of our ambition is that some of us will forgo our morality? Or should we consider that when achieving our ambitions that way, our achievements might not be truly authentic?

Like the “worm of conscience” which begnawed the soul of Richard, our “conscience is a” “compass” which will always aim to guide us. Although its root is the subject of eternal debate; with some considering it as a form of religious guidance and others saying it is based on community standards, I believe it would be quite accurate to conclude that the consensus is that our conscience is heavily influenced by our environment. In many ways, it is an internal court whose principles are built upon our upbringing, experiences, and milieu. And like all courts, the judgements it makes through its voice in our minds can either engender self-satisfaction or guilt pangs within us.

The emotion which is enkindled is dependent on whether we have followed or opposed our conscience. If one listens to their inner voice, they will find comfort. They will not be burdened with the feeling of having dismissed their principles and acted unethically. Thus, if we all follow our conscience, we can establish peace in our society. Einstein once said, “Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it.”

Here, it is clear Einstein recognises the importance of conscience, highlighting its superiority over the status quo. Besides, when we follow our conscience, we can help foster positive change in our vicinity. This is why in Orwell’s 1984, the government implemented Thoughtpol who would target the consciences and thoughts of its people. Because such could bring about challenges, reveal the injustices of its policies; the same way Montag’s inner voice told him of those of his masters.

However, there are situations where it’s extremely difficult to make a moral choice, such as in a “Sophie’s Choice” type of scenario where neither outcome is favourable. What would you do if you were forced to choose which of your two children would be killed? Or in cases like that of the 1884 UK case of R v Dudley and Stephens which raises the question: if you are at the brink of starvation, and isolated on a boat at sea, is it justifiable to kill a ship-mate to eat them (for food (?); or is that murder? These predicaments place us in a moral dilemma where conscience cannot and does not guide us. It plays no role. But that’s okay. It will not punish us as we are rendered powerless by the fact that all outcomes are undesirable.

Nevertheless, some of us choose to ignore our conscience at times where we can make a difference, believing that through such we will gain liberation by not being constrained by moral codes. There are those of us who believe the ends justify the means, and that stifling our inner voice will help make those elusive aspirations tangible. From the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz to Richard who believed he could usurp the throne by disregarding the Great Chain of Being, some subscribe to Machiavelli’s theory that a political leader does not have to be personally moral as long as their actions are effective. But what are the ramifications of such?

Personally, I like to think of our minds as a plastic object, flexible with the capability of its crosslinks being influenced by external forces such as temperature and additives. For us, those crosslinks change according to the experiences and moral standards of the individual. But when those principles are dismissed, there is no heat to mould the plastic accordingly. And so, the plastic hardens. This can result in us completely overlooking the consequences of our actions before committing them; engaging in hedonistic pursuits as we become blind to the ethics surrounding situations. Just like Dorian Gray, who pursued an unrestrained aesthetic lifestyle at the expense of the lives of his friends.

It will ultimately lead to inequity as society itself does not act upon its collective conscience. This is why Atticus said “before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience”. He knew that when people stopped being true to themselves, his environment would become a place of untruth. That’s why he saw the importance in defending Tom Robinson. If we don’t voice our beliefs, what we think is right and wrong, our society will not progress.

But it’s not just about the collective human experience. How about you, the individual? Well, there will come a time that when your experiences and inauthentic ‘joy’ will prevail and remind you that you reached your goals by eliminating your conscience. However, there are of course some people who legitimately don’t feel guilty about their actions and don’t care if they’re being immoral. Yet, where is the beauty in the ‘success’ you attained with such ease? Without any limitations and obstacles? Surely the taste will be different to that of prosperity gained through blood, sweat, and tears.

While I absolutely recognise that at times, we may find it really enticing to succumb to the temptations of rejecting our conscience, it is important that we act patiently. In our fast-paced world, it’s super easy to lose track of time and completely forget about what matters most. The prospect of gaining success easily is appealing to us all. But we must pause and contemplate; remember our purpose, the impacts of our means, and their benefits to our surroundings. In the words of Fyodor Dostoevsky, “there is nothing more alluring to man than freedom of conscience, but neither is there anything more agonizing”.