The article Conscience by Richard Gula explains what a conscience is, how we form a conscience, and what we must use our conscience for. Gula starts the article by explaining the difference between a conscience and a super-ego. The super-ego acts as a regulator that avoids punishment by forcing us to make correct decisions, using guilt as its main enforcer. Gula explains that the super-ego develops from an authority figure that tells us what to do and how to do it. The conscience responds out of love, unlike the super-ego which acts out of fear. Our conscience acts as a moral compass which tries to steer us into decisions that we wholeheartedly believe in. After explaining the difference between the super-ego and conscience Gula goes into detail about the moral conscience. Gula claims that conscience is rooted in the heart and holds us to laws that we internally value. We follow our conscience faithfully due to the fact that it tells us what we truly think and ultimately want. The conscience has three dimensions: capacity, process, and judgement. Capacity is the ability to discern good from evil, while the process is made up of moral wisdom, leading us to further discovery of right and wrong. Judgement allows our conscience to guide us through making decisions. Gula claims that the formation of conscience is a lifelong task. All human beings are morally good to the extent that they want to know what is right or wrong. The communities that we surround ourselves in build our conscience and moral character. Gula touches on how the development of the conscience goes hand in hand with the development of our character. Gula later explains conscience and choice. Sinfulness clouds our judgement and often times leads us to make bad decisions. Gula explains that an erroneous conscience is when we don't have the facts to back up our conscience. In the end we are always judged by the sincerity of our acts and not so much the physical gestures themselves. Once we reach the stage of a mature conscience we will be able to fully decide for ourselves. Gula explains that we must always do what we believe in. We cannot focus on anyone else's moral values or decisions, we must be ourselves. Lastly Gula explains who can act in conscience. He claims that to act in conscience we must have knowledge, freedom, and emotion. Knowledge is the capacity to reason, reflect, and analyze. Gula explains that it applies our moral values in the decisions that we make. To use knowledge we must be self-reflective, and self-aware. Freedom explains that our actions must be involved in self-chosen goals. Gula explains that our freedom must be expressed within nature and nurture. This means that we can't always blame our decisions on past experiences. Everyone must own up to their actions and look inside themselves to see how they can improve upon their moral values. Gula claims that each of us must accept the responsibility for ourselves and our actions. Emotions display our moral sensitivity. Knowledge explains what is right or wrong but emotions push us into action. To develop a conscience we must express empathy for those around us. Empathy brings morality while emotions are the building blocks for our conscience. Overall conscience is the foundation of our moral character, decisions, and lives.

Super ego commands us seeking approval and love

The super-ego is made up by an authority figure telling us what is right/wrong

Super-ego is a mechanism used to avoid punishment

Conscience looks for wants and internal values

Conscience holds us accountable to inner laws

Conscience= ling between truth and freedom

what we do under pressure tells us who we truly are

Freedom must be expressed within nature and nurture

We must take responsibility for ourselves and our actions

We have guilt when comparing our moral capacity to others