A Study of Conscience (Classic Reprint)

Explore the origins and power of conscience and how it guides everyday choices. This concise, thoughtful work surveys how moral sense has been understood in philosophy and religion, contrasting natural law with theories that trace ethics to evolution or social training. It challenges the idea that conscience is merely a developing faculty and examines the role of judgment and authority in moral life.

Concentrating on the question of whether conscience evolves with education and culture, the text argues that true conscience remains a steady voice, while judgment can change with circumstance. It critiques attempts to subordinate personal conscience to external authorities and warns against the dangers of denying individual moral discernment.

• Defines conscience as a constant inner perception of right and wrong.


• Examines how education, culture, and authority influence judgment without changing conscience’s core voice.


• Evaluates claims from evolution-focused ethics and critiques of absolute religious authority.


• Poses questions about the balance between personal conscience and institutional guidance.

Ideal for readers of philosophy, ethics, and religious studies who seek a clear, critical look at how conscience functions in thought and action.