YOUR Conscience? OR Embedded Values??


Was just considering whether a person's conscience is really their own. Or if it is some machination of Society? Perhaps embedded values from being raised by those who've impressed their values, including those pressed upon them? Or do we really, really have our very own conscience that knows right vs. wrong/good vs. evil/legal vs. illegal.

How much of it is a little voice inside our head playing out how we'd expect our loved ones to respond to our course? Do we dispute the merits, argue with rationality on why we do it in order to convince ourselves it is necessary? Do we really worry about what other people think. Of how they will judge us afterwards??

Maybe we could blame it on media too. Television, radio and reading materials used to shape us into whatever image it prefers. Is the Holy Bible a tool to give us core programming on what is righteous? What factors, influences and personalities drive us to do even the most basic things??

Thought about this after m son was saying his stomach tightened when he considered doing something he KNEW to be wrong. Was it my voice inside of his head fussing at him NOT to do that thing? Am I as guilty of programming my son's behaviour patterns to whatever is most suitable??

The reason therapists believe we hate our mothers or fathers is that they are the first authoritative figures that we recognize. To learn if we hate authority; the control of others upon us... over us. It isn't always when we reach teenage years that we rebel. Some start early or even wait until after age 19. Is that our internal systems rejecting their codified laws/rules? Are we really wanting to test their love by doing the wrong things to see how they'd react after the fact?? Does constantly affirming love through them via words and touch prevent this? And does it stop when we become adults? Maybe we do not change completely when maturing... that the object of authority of any degree becomes the spouse or boss and we want them to value us.

Which brings it back to our actions or reactions based up worrying what they'd think or do afterwards. How many took or avoided action to avoid an argument with a loved one? {Raising own hand} How much of this inside is really fear of upsetting those that mean the most? And some people might not understand why gay sons don't want to tell their fathers the truth?? Or they continue to deny whatever attractions they feel toward whatever it is that tickles their sexual beast? When people step outside those acceptable lines of behaviour, they're labeled things. Ugly things. And we wondered why people don't want to admit honestly to themselves who or what they are?

The more someone loves others the more it becomes a question of whether they are born with a conscience. If there is a little warning bulb inside the brain somewhere that flashes red, sending out a little wave of heat in order to prevent events. Fear doesn't have to be programmed it. Nor does anger. Yet how we behave... is it observed and then replicated? Drives us even farther to wonder if however much of us there is, how much of it do we really own. How much of it can we say is totally us? How much is it our decision on what things are acceptable?

Brainwashing, hypnosis, schizophrenic.... tormented by memories, debating within our own heads from more than one personal perspective. Where does it end and the person's own conscience kick fully into force?

I don't think morality needs to be taught. I believe it's instinctive.

The basic rules of morality appear to be universal, and I'm pretty sure that even the people who don't necessarily follow those rules can tell what is right from what is wrong.

That's an interesting assessment and I'm fairly certain there's an ongoing discussion about that.

I'm inclined to believe that morality is not inherent. I think (and approaching Morality from the western Judeo-Christian understanding) that some of what I would expect to be covered in my personal morality wouldn't be for someone in a different part of the world.

For example, I have a limited understanding of Chinese culture, but from what I do I know they tend to value Harmony whereas Indo-European tends to value individual freedoms. A Chinese person would have no problem sacrificing the occasional personal freedom to sustain harmony, whereas a western individual would.