Godless conscience

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

John Cottingham suggests that “only a traditional theistic framework may be adequate for doing justice to the role of conscience in our lives.” Two main reasons for endorsing this proposition are assessed: the religious origins of conscience, and the need to explain its normative authority. I argue that Graeco-Roman conceptions of conscience cast doubt on this first historical claim, and that secular moral realisms can account for the obligatoriness of conscience. Nevertheless, the recognition of the need for an objective foundation for conscience which emerges from these debates should be embraced by both secular and religious ethicists alike.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)95-114
Number of pages20
JournalEuropean Journal for Philosophy of Religion
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Oct 2022

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • conscience

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