Are we born with a conscience or is it instilled in us?

[Grin]

Some kids develop a conscience despite having had an abusive upbringing and some don't. This is something that always puzzles me. Where some abuse carries on for generations, with each generation perpetuating that abuse, some do manage to stop the cycle.

What do you think?

 

[Smith]

i dont know !

 

[Minor Axis]

I believe you are born with a conscience that can be modified by environment, then mix in your personal characteristics. As an individual you can be better or worse than the perceived cultural standard for morality.

 

[Thornless]

I think its something you develop yourself through life, mostly by choice, you have the choice to let something bother you or keep you from doing something, and/or feeling regret over a bad choice afterward.

 

[Minor Axis]

I think its something you develop yourself through life, mostly by choice, you have the choice to let something bother you or keep you from doing something, and/or feeling regret over a bad choice afterward.

It's not just a choice- I'll be good today, I'll be bad today. Choices are heavily influenced by your conscience/morality.

 

[Meirionnydd]

Our conscience is determined by our genes, and our social environment.

It's the classic, 'nature vs. nurture' debate.

 

[IntruderLS1]

I believe you are born with a conscience that can be modified by environment, then mix in your personal characteristics. As an individual you can be better or worse than the perceived cultural standard for morality.

:thumbup

 

[Thornless]

It's not just a choice- I'll be good today, I'll be bad today. Choices are heavily influenced by your conscience/morality.

Influenced yes, but in the end you choose. Someone could have the best upbringing, be a good student, good wife/husband, citizen, do everything right in their life and then out of the blue decide to go against their first instincts and conscience and do something bad and immoral.

 

[BigCoffinHunter]

I believe that the only person that knows is GAWD!
a yes/no for me
*dont want to start a flame war with the god thing*

 

[ssl]

I believe that the only person that knows is GAWD!
a yes/no for me
*dont want to start a flame war with the god thing*

dude.

if you can't handle the heat, gtfo of the kitchen.

:dunno what's so hard to understand.

 

[Aurum]

well the abuse over time would change you, just like social interactions can change your way of thinking. so maybe the abused train of thought is a persons unheard emotions or maybe its the absolute lack of caring that drived that person completly insane.