Crisis of Conscience : Ethical Decision Making

Crisis of Conscience : Ethical Decision Making

(Relevant For Mains G.S paper IV)

Crisis of Conscience by Vikash Ranjan sir at Triumph IAS, UPSC Sociology Optional

What is meant by Conscience?

Conscience is the aspect of your mind that informs you about the moral correctness of your actions. Essentially, conscience refers to what we commonly call the inner mind.

Crisis of Conscience

A crisis of conscience refers to a situation where it becomes extremely challenging to determine the morally right course of action. It also describes the distress someone feels when they fear they have acted unfairly or immorally.

This is essentially an ethical dilemma, but in a more intense form. During a crisis of conscience, individuals worry that their actions may conflict with their inner moral compass, making those actions ethically questionable.

what is voice of conscience?

The voice of conscience refers to an inner voice that evaluates your actions, serving as a guide for ethical decision-making. For many individuals, this internal voice plays a crucial role in determining what is right or wrong. A notable example of someone who relied heavily on their voice of conscience is Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi once remarked: “The human voice can never reach the distance that is covered by the still small voice of conscience.”

How do you prepare yourself to heed to the voice of conscience?

  • Pause and Reflect: Take a moment to consider all dimensions of the issue at hand.
  • Embrace Silence: Harness the power of silence to gain clarity and perspective.
  • Meditation and Prayer: Engage in meditation and prayer to strengthen your inner resolve.
  • Free Yourself: Liberate yourself from external pressures and selfish interests to act with integrity.

Quotes related to conscience :

  1. In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place. – Mahatma Gandhi.
  2. There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts. – Mahatma Gandhi.
  3. Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it. – Albert Einstein.

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