While researching the concept of "personal referential incoherence" (on a different stream of curiousity), the focus on the the word " "Conscience"
arose....
It is interesting to understand the development of our languages and the meaning of words:
[CONSCIENCE (n.)
c. 1200, "faculty of knowing what is right," originally especially to Christian ethics, later "awareness that the acts for which one feels responsible
do or do not conform to one's ideal of right," later (late 14c.) more generally, "sense of fairness or justice, moral sense."
This is from Old French conscience "conscience, innermost thoughts, desires, intentions; feelings" (12c.) and directly from Latin conscientia "a joint
knowledge of something, a knowing of a thing together with another person; consciousness, knowledge;" particularly, "knowledge within oneself, sense
of right and wrong, a moral sense," abstract noun from conscientem (nominative consciens), present participle of conscire "be (mutually) aware; be
conscious of wrong," in Late Latin "to know well," from assimilated form of com "with," or "thoroughly" (see con-) + scire "to know," probably
originally "to separate one thing from another, to distinguish," related to scindere "to cut, divide," from PIE root *skei- "to cut, split" (source
also of Greek skhizein "to split, rend, cleave").
The Latin word is probably a loan-translation of Greek syneidesis, literally "with-knowledge." The sense development is perhaps via "to know along
with others" (what is right or wrong) to "to know right or wrong within oneself, know in one's own mind" (conscire sibi). Sometimes it was nativized
in Old English/early Middle English as inwit. Russian also uses a loan-translation, so-vest, "conscience," literally "with-knowledge."
Related Entries......]
When I super-impose this concept over BN conversations about climate change, protecting the environment, current US policies regarding immigration,
etc it offers a "filter" for sorting positions taken by folks....
Beliefs with a knowledge base vs simple opinions.....what a concept.
Just found it interesting and challenging to my own thinking....John Harper - 2-7-2019 at 10:18 AM
It's important for us to think about "how" we think, not just "what" we think.
I applaud your effort!
The Problem with Conscience ......................
MrBillM - 2-7-2019 at 03:05 PM
Throughout history, among other issues, quite a few people have sincerely believed that they were courageously defending their "one true"
religion or their own (superior and/or endangered) race/ethnicity when they performed or accepted
what most consider truly evil actions.bajabuddha - 2-7-2019 at 05:57 PM
Here's another thought for thought..... I have always maintained the definition of "consciousness" is a triumvirate (triangle) of three basic
tenets.....
Awareness, periphery, and conscience. = CONSCIOUSNESS.
Awareness: The ability to see what is directly in front of you and to ascertain its importance relevant to your being/actions.
Periphery: The ability to sense not only what is in front of you, but the things/actions going on around you and your influence/impact upon things
related to your being/actions, as in a pebble dropped into a pond.
Conscience: See all above.
More food for thought; the difference between boogers and Brussels sprouts? Kids won't eat Brussels sprouts. shari - 2-7-2019 at 06:15 PM
