On The Matter Of Conscience

Commentary, Guest Post Comments (1)

“There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible as the conscience that dwells in the heart of every man.” – Polybius

Conscience is an intangible.  It is our moral compass, that voice inside each of us that guides us in determing Right vs Wrong.  It is a dynamic, ever-changing thing molded by upbringing, faith, society, and countless other factors.  It is, for each of us, a unique internal manifestation of our beliefs about how the world should function.

For all that it is, conscience is something very easily ignored.  This was famously proven by a series of psychological experiments conducted in the 60’s by Stanley Milgram.  These experiments involved two people, one designated the teacher and the other the learner (the learner was a plant that was never actually harmed in any way).  The learner is hooked up to a device that generates electric shocks, which the teacher is instructed to provide every time an incorrect answer to an exercise is provided.  Each time a shock is provided the voltage is increased, starting at 15 volts and ending at 450 volts.  Sixty-five percent of the participants completed the exercise, initiating three shocks of 450 volts to the learner, the first time the experiment was performed.

Why, in a situation where there is nothing forcing an individual to continue, did these people continue to knowingly inflict harm on another being, something that is considered by most civilized people to be a definitive Wrong.  One simple answer is the fear of and the desire to please the authority figure present during the experiment.  This is proven in one variation of the experiment where the authority figure communicated with the teacher via phone instead of in person – the teacher’s compliance in completing the experiment decreased to twenty-one percent.  Another answer is proximity to the pain being caused.  When the teacher was directed to hold the learner’s arm onto the shock plate compliance in completing the experiment decreased to thirty percent.

There are numerous factors at play in these experiments – the participants were being paid, it was an unfamiliar and likely uncomfortable environment and experience, pressure to react quickly, etc.  Each of these certainly contributed to the responses of the participants.  However, all factors aside, multiple individuals chose to ignore their conscience and willingly inflict harm upon another.

This is yet another example of the weakness of humanity.  When faced with an entity that we believe to have authority, whether it be knowledge, power, or something else, we will generally back down and do as we’re told.  When allowed to act without directly acknowledging the results of our actions we are more likely to press ahead despite what that voice inside is telling us at the time.  At the same time we are more likely to do what we perceive to be Right when that authority figure is not immediately present and do what we believe to be Wrong when we can not directly perceive the results of our choices.

Cowardice, pure and simple.  It is what the bulk of humans are at heart.  They desire the simplest, easiest path through life.  A path that is certainly obtained by taking actions to appease figures of power and authority, no matter how many beliefs and other people, so long as their suffering is not directly perceived, are compromised in the process.  Humans, just as all sentient living creatures, have the desire to live, survive, and procreate (for the most part).  When faced with ‘you’ or ‘them’ situation most of us will choose the side of ‘you’ every time.

What does this say about humanity as a whole?  Why do some of us engage in mass murder, rape and other such activities that clearly go against the civilized definition of what is Right.  Why are others willing to die for what they believe in, becoming martyrs in the eyes of others that share those beliefs?

We are all of us unique, and our responses to any given situation will be equally so unique.  At the end of the day we each have to live with ourselves and the choices that we make.  We are, without question, our own harshest critic.

So the next time you have to make a decision ask yourself this question – are you strong enough to stand up for your beliefs?  Then ask yourself, no matter what you decide, if you’re prepared to live with the choice you’re about to make and whatever follows.

And never forget, that a single decision can lay the foundation for the future of us all.

Pieces And Parts @ July 9, 2008