What is the 'Conscience'?

[zenmaster]

I think the entire complex - m/b/s - is utilized. From our prefrontal cortex which physically helps us to weight options and make decisions, our thinking function of mind, social mind which we probably tap into to make decision, and so forth. Conscience is about utilizing life experience and knowing what is valuable when engaging in some action. So to me it's about morality - what is right and wrong, which is basically what we value and what we believe and think about things. During our lifespan we do develop our capacity to make decisions (e.g., Kohlberg's moral development theory) but it's about experience and socialization or norms, mores, values, (i.e., different distortions).

Our relationship to our experience changes as we begin to accept what is offered by the lower centers. When honesty is forthcoming, there is no "conscience" because the decision offered by circumstance is apparent and instantaneous, there is no opportunity for "regret" at that level of congruency of mind. When there is a suggestion to consider something, like a dilemma or confusion, then you know that something is not yet integrated and there's a lesson to learn.