Moral Conscience, Freedom, and Determinism: Exploring Ethical Choices

1. Moral Conscience

Moral conscience refers to the human ability to discern and evaluate the rightness or wrongness of actions, both one's own and those of others. It guides individuals toward what they believe to be the correct course of action. Expressions like "My conscience is clear" highlight the significance attributed to this guiding capacity in our lives.

2. Freedom and Determinism

2.1 Definition and Types of Freedom

Freedom is the capacity to make independent choices about matters that affect us. There are various types of freedom:

• Physical Freedom: The ability to move freely. This is restricted for someone who is imprisoned.
• Political Freedom: The power of self-governance within political systems. In ancient Greece, slaves lacked political freedom.
• Civil Freedom: The right to exercise civil liberties, the rights guaranteed to citizens by a state's laws.
• Freedom of Thought: The ability to express one's opinions without restriction.

2.2 Determinism

Determinism is the theory that denies human freedom, suggesting that what we perceive as free will is merely an illusion. Several types of determinism exist:

• Physical Determinism: Humans are subject to the same physical laws as everything else in the universe. Every action has a cause, and under identical conditions, the same causes produce the same effects. This view was advocated by Laplace.
• Theological Determinism: Human freedom is denied due to the intervention of supernatural forces that guide and determine human behavior, impeding true autonomy.
• Psychological Determinism: Choices are explained by the strongest reason or set of reasons. Deliberation is like a balance scale, tipping towards the side with the most weight. This was defended by Schopenhauer.
• Sociological Determinism: Social groups exert pressure on individuals, enforcing behavioral norms, values, and beliefs. Individuals are shaped by their social environment. Durkheim and Lévy-Bruhl supported this view.