Abstract / DOI
Self-Formation as Self Commitment to the Good: Conscience as a practical Guiding Principle from the Perspective of Moral Psychology. The Second Vatican Council has formally declared the dignity of each person’s conscience, and conscience has a central ethical meaning on the part of moral theology as well, because it can be interpreted as an authority of authentic morality. Conscience refers to the moral irreplaceability and irreducibility of personal responsibility. As a practical guiding principle conscience is integrated in the identity and story of someone’s life. Thus, the formation of one’s conscience and identity are closely intertwined. This contribution reflects from the perspective of moral psychology how the individual conscience can be understood as a personal ethical guiding principle.