Conscience

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/conscience

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the philosophical interpretations?Ranges from divine inspiration (Aquinas) to rational duty (Kant)
2. What is the psychological components?Involves cognitive evaluation, emotional responses (guilt, satisfaction), and learned behaviors
3. Why does conscience feel guilty or proud?When we do something good, we feel pride and satisfaction; when we do something wrong, we feel guilt, shame, or anxiety.
4. How does our brain help conscience decide?The brain uses areas like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala to think about choices and feelings, helping us judge actions.

Moral Faculty: An inherent human capacity or power for discerning right from wrong.
Internalized Norms: Societal rules and values that an individual adopts as their own personal standards.
Affective States: Emotional experiences, such as guilt, shame, pride, or satisfaction, linked to moral actions.