It was very good that the U.N. launched this day dedicated to remember to the world the importance to cultivate a good conscience. In 2016 I wrote about the danger of the subculture of the evil called gangsterism or banditism spreading to general public. So to fight this evil, besides fight for justice, we have to cultivate clearly what is right and what is wrong. Fighting for human rights, democracy, and quality education not only for mind but also to heart is important. This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at https://www.britannica.com/topic/conscience The second was published https://www.usccb.org/prolife/understanding-conscience. The third was published at http://www.fowpal.org/peak-view/celebrating-un%E2%80%99s-declaration-april-5th-international-day-conscience-evening-love-peace-and
Conscience, is a personal sense of the moral content of one's own conduct, intentions, or character with regard to a feeling of obligation to do right or be good. Conscience is usually formed by acculturation and instruction, is thus generally understood to give intuitively authoritative judments regarding the moral quality of single actions. Historically, almost every culture has recognized the existence of such a faculty. Ancient Egyptians, for exmple, were urged not to trangress against the dictates of the heart, for one must stand in fear of departing from its guidance. Philosophers, social scientists, and psychologists have sought to understand conscience in both its individual and universal aspects. The view that holds conscience to be an inmate, intuitive faculty determining the perception of right or wrong is called intuitionism. The view that holds conscience to be a cumulative inference from past experience giving direction to future conduct is called empiricism. The behavioral scientist, on the other hand, may view conscience as a set of learned responses to particular social stimuli. Sister Agnes Walsh, is remember for her heroism in France during World War II. In 1943, when France was occupied by German Nazis, the search for Jews began. In the face of grave peril, Sister Agnes convinced her superior to open their convent and offer refuge to a Jewish family. The sisters did the right, but very challenging thing, when many would have told them to take the easy way out. Most of us won't face the extreme circumstances these women faced, but we all have our own challenges. What do you do if your boss gives you a task you believe is wrong? How do you make ethical decisions? Conscience helps us recognize the truth about how we ought to live. Conscience is "a judgment of reason" by which we determine whether an action is right or wrong. Have you ever made a decision that turned out badly, but if you had more information beforehand, you'd have made a better decision? For example, think of learning a new language. We can only speak with the language we have, and if we have not received good education in vocabulary and grammar, we'll communicate poorly, and others will not understand us. If our conscience is not well-formed, we are not well-equipped to determine right from wrong. All of us have the personal responsibility to align our consciences with the truth so that, when we faced with the challenges of daily life, our conscience can help guide us well. We can grow deeper the continuing work of forming our conscience well. Although is not a complete list, these suggestions can help us as we seek to inform and strengthen our conscience. 1) Learn - without a foundational, practical formation, it is difficult for our consciences to guide us well in concrete situations. For example, learning about moral principles or researching about a challenging issue will help us grow in knowledge of the truth, this help us understand a little more how to live in a way that leads to our true conscience. 2) Reflect - we are formed by the stories we hear and tell. We may be uncertain how we ought to respond to various challenges we face, but there are many who have faced similar situations throughout the ages. Immersing ourselves in the stories of them can encourage us and help us develop habits of mind that allow us to grow. Stories help us hone our instincts. 3) Nurture friendship - friendships with people who are also trying to do good is a way that we can gain partners who can lighten the load. Conversation with other about how to respond to challenges in the life we possibly can face are vital. A couple of challenges we may face in following our consciences are worth noting: 1) Indifference - When we are bombarded with news, images and stories, it's easy to become numb to other people and the world around us. Conscience requires us to be attentive. Having a well-formed conscience doesn't mean we have all the answers to the complex problems in the world, but it does mean that we are sensitive to the needs and struggles of other people. 2) Coercion - Increasingly, we are seeing that certain groups use their power to coerce people to violate their consciences. We can see how unjust these types of actions are. Our conscience should be our primary and only guide for action. On April 5th, the International Day of Conscience was launched at the U.N. in Viena. This achievement was made possible through the relentless efforts of numerous heroes of conscience. This day is meant to activate sincere hearts, inspire good deeds and extend collaboration to achieve peace and common prosperity. This represents that the idea of love, peace, and conscience are supported by the entire international community, and it is all nations' responsibility to implement these ideas. When we connect each person's conscience, we'll form a "protective net" for the earth and for ourselves. When every global citizen participates, this net will become even more tightly-knit and stronger. Just like a sailor searches for a lighthouse, the compass of conscience embedded in each of us remind us to self-reflect and become aware of our conscience in our fast-paced lives. The compass lead us to overcome adversity, to return to our true selves, and to do the right things. When we have the right frame of reference, our path becomes clear. The International Day of Conscience paves the way to world peace and love. As we go forward, we must continue motivating one another to multiply and expand the impact of kindness so that all world citizens will exercise their own influence and the culture of conscience will become rooted in each corner of the world. We live for only few decades. We must make the most of our time and thoughtfully cultivates our hearts. Conscience guides our way to brightness and good opportunities and connections will be created.
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