ABSTRACT
Central to the modern conception of conscience is the notion of a capacity, attributed to most people that enable them to discern the commission or omission of acts, both their own and others, as immoral and blameworthy. The notion of conscience emanates from antiquity. Contemporary conceptions of conscience fall within two extremes, both of which are rooted in the notion of conscience as a faculty. These are metaphysical and deflationary extremes. At one end of the spectrum, conscience is providential. At the other end, conscience is culturally derived and normative. The forgoing raises a number of important points for social workers to consider in cultivating and engaging their own and others’ consciences. K. Brownlee lists four conditions for a sincere moral conviction: consistency, universal moral judgment, non-evasion, and dialogic effort. Conscience is not only introspective, but also retrospective and prospective. It alerts to own and others’ misdeeds and serves as a prelude to further conscientious deliberation.
