CONSCIENCE: PSYCHO-PHILOSOPHICAL DIMENSION

Abstract: (Conscience guides human action and regulates society on larger scale. Repertory of emotions and conflicts develops with poor regulation of conscience. Dimension of Psychology with Homeopathic Philosophy helps application of concept in practice. Conceptual & evolutionary understanding helps us to define problem and resolution clearly. )

A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing.

Conscience is moral sense of right and wrong. It is related to value education. Conscience is a light of soul that burns within the chambers of your heart. According to Hindu Philosophy, Conscience called as Vivek.

Psycho-dynamics of conscience

CONSCIENCE:

Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality helps us to understand dynamics and functions of conscience.
He described three parts of personality: Id, Ego and Superego.
ID: Id is biological aspect. It is reservoir of instinctual energies contains biological urges for survival like hunger and thirst, sex and aggression. It seeks for immediate gratification of desires and instincts. It works on pleasure principle.
Ego: It is sense of “I’m ness.” It is part of human personality develops after birth (acquire). It works on reality principle. It develops from id and ensures urges and impulses of id expressed in a manner acceptable in real world.
Superego: Superego is social aspect of personality developed after birth. It reflects internalization of cultural rules or social norms primarily taught by parents, teachers, masters, spiritual leaders. Superego controls our sense of right or wrong, good or bad, do’s or don’ts. It helps us fit in to society by getting us to act in socially acceptable manner.
There are two parts of superego:

• Ego ideals which includes rules and standards of good behaviors. Obeying these rules leads to feeling of proud, value and accomplishment.
  The conscience includes information about things that are viewed as bad by parents and society. These behaviors are often forbidden and lead to bad consequences, punishments, or feeling of guilt and remorse.
• The conscience includes information about things that are viewed as bad by parents and society. These behaviors are often forbidden and lead to bad consequences, punishments, or feeling of guilt and remorse.

Homeopathic philosophy:

Dr. M.L. Dhawle has beautifully explained concept of conscience and its dimensions as Tyrant or Guide. He says it all depends upon user how he operates on conscience. He viewed Conscience as synthesis evolving out of experiences- that is transmitted in an organized and deliberate manner through education (socio-religious, cultural, economic, political and spiritual) it is related to conceptual system of man; thoughts, feelings, actions, communication related to the Ethical Norm- the concept of good or evil.

He added that actions are important. Appropriateness of action is related to Time and circumstances. We thus live in the world of relative values although we like to affirm our faith in unfailing absolutes, since it is for more satisfying so He quoted concept of “Operational” conscience of man.
Progressive generalization through increasing abstractions permits man to evolve his conscience up the ladder till the universal man, who is able to relate himself with perfect equanimity to entire universe and to perceive the essential equality of all and finally evolves.

Conscience; when it obstructs this evolution, as a result of its moorings to social obligations and mores; could be regarded as tyrant of most effectively to desire – pain-pleasure complex.

Operational conscience is made possible in man on account of his ‘reason gifted mind’. Reason can bend most readily in service of emotions guided by desires. Man with his historical past has a part of goodness within him (inherent or real conscience). This inherent and operational conscience must be in proper alignments if crisis is not to be precipitated through incompatibility between the two. These are the most serious problems of man to resolve. A physician is often called to resolve such crisis through his ministrations.

APPLIED ASPECT OF CONSCIENCE:

• Theoretical background of understanding of conscience helps us in case perceiving and defining role of physician.
• It also helps to understand personality in evolution. It’s clear that conscience can be an asset or liability.
• It can give growth or fall with guilt feelings.
• By integrating aphorisms 5, 7 we define personality with cause and effect.
• We can see morbid phenomenon (apho 5).
• Make totality with clear perception (apho 3).
• By appreciating rubrics of conscience we can select appropriate medicine.

Reference
Synopsis of Psychiatry; by Kaplan
Textbook of psychology by Morgan and King
ICR Symposium Volume B