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more about conscience
conscience |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Conscience \Con"science\, n. [F. conscience, fr L. conscientia fr consciens, p. pr of conscire to know to be conscious; con- + scire to know See {Science}.] 1. Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [Obs.] The sweetest cordial we receive, at last Is conscience of our virtuous actions past. --Denham. 2. The faculty, power, or inward principle which decides as to the character of one's own actions, purposes, and affections, warning against and condemning that which is wrong and approving and prompting to that which is right the moral faculty passing judgment on one's self the moral sense My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for a villain. --Shak. As science means knowledge, conscience etymologically means self-knowledge . . . But the English word implies a moral standard of action in the mind as well as a consciousness of our own actions. . . . Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of right and wrong and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and condemnation. --Whewell. 3. The estimate or determination of conscience; conviction or right or duty. Conscience supposes the existence of some such [i.e., moral] faculty, and properly signifies our consciousness of having acted agreeably or contrary to its directions. --Adam Smith. 4. Tenderness of feeling; pity. [Obs.] --Chaucer. {Conscience clause}, a clause in a general law exempting persons whose religious scruples forbid compliance therewith, -- as from taking judicial oaths, rendering military service, etc {Conscience money}, stolen or wrongfully acquired money that is voluntarily restored to the rightful possessor. Such money paid into the United States treasury by unknown debtors is called the Conscience fund. {Court of Conscience}, a court established for the recovery of small debts, in London and other trading cities and districts. [Eng.] --Blackstone. {In conscience}, {In all conscience}, in deference or obedience to conscience or reason; in reason; reasonably. ``This is enough in conscience.'' --Howell. ``Half a dozen fools are in all conscience, as many as you should require.'' --Swift. {To make conscience of}, {To make a matter of conscience}, to act according to the dictates of conscience concerning (any matter), or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: conscience n 1: motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions [syn: {scruples}, {moral sense}, {sense of right and wrong}] 2: conformity to one's own sense of right conduct: "a person of unflagging conscience" 3: a feeling of shame when you do something immoral; "he has no conscience about his cruelty" From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Conscience that faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been perverted by the Fall (John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as defiled" (Titus 1:15), and seared" (1 Tim. 4:2). A "conscience void of offence" is to be sought and cultivated (Acts 24:16; Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 1 Pet. 3:21).
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