The notion of having a good conscience has been relatively neglected in moral psychology, and this has inflicted a lot of pain and infused devastating consequences in our society. We focus more on the professional, the spiritual, and the physical elements of success, and we often sacrifice our private conscience on the altar of our public duties.
Conscience is simply the little voice in our head that tells us when we’re doing the right thing or not. Shakespeare called it “a thousand swords.” These swords travel life with us and pierces our minds when we are on the wrong path or fight guilt when we are on the right path. They convey strength, confidence, and bravery in moments of truth. A functioning conscience sends a signal of guilt when something bad is done, and it is important for us to recognize this signal, listen, and act upon it.
Developing a working conscience is a winning strategy in our life pursuits, be it in business, in the political, religious, and social life, in relationships, and so on. It is required to make key decisions because it exposes inconvenient lies and guides sustainability strategies. Any approach that is rooted in conscience is a winning approach, being that it informs the right decisions and distinguishes facts from opinion.
We are all conversant with all the moral virtues and standards, but the test of conscience plays out when the push comes to shove. Can those virtues be activated by good conscience? The dissipation of the consciousness of moral goodness and the inability to make moral judgement may be contributory to some dilemmas we face in life because the court of conscience supercedes the court of law. In this court, conscience and morality need to be synergied with other elements of success to guarantee a win.
Conscience is the most terrible witness and the most powerful accuser of the mind. If the conscience of mankind demands change in the face of evil, religious leaders won’t live a life that’s contrary to what they preach or fake prophecies to defraud their congregation, married couples won’t cheat, family rivalry will be reduced, people won’t swindle others in business, employers wont sit on employees’ salaries or pay them late, promotions will be given when due, there won’t be religious hypocrites, single ladies won’t date married men, friends won’t betray each other, people won’t collect money to defend lies or conspire against others, there won’t be envy, backbiting, bitterness, deception and wickedness, kidnapping, robbery, cyber theft, and other vices prevalent in society today.
Having a sound mind with good conscience develops from infancy. It starts with the family and then the school before the community. A child that is comfortable watching another child lie or one that feels good to speak disrespectfully to others, or one that comfortablly conceals or misrepresents facts, is making a step forward to a damaged conscience in the future. It is the responsibility of parents and educators to forestall this.
The principle of good conscience is more invoked in a religious context. Religious people see conscience as the voice of God that’s whispered to only those who have a good relationship with God. But conscience isn’t only for the religious because some pagans and atheists have more conscience than some religious people. Some people are natural truth bearers and reputable in all they do. They uphold the truth and stand for what is right, just and fair.
Conscience is our friend. Clear conscience is the liberty of blind instincts. A dead conscience is calamity in progress. Let a good conscience be the best gift to self and to mankind.
Amara Ann Unachukwu.
