Das Gewissen

The concept and phenomenon of conscience are the subject of an inter-disciplinary exploration in this collection. With contributions from the fields of theology, law, philosophy, psychology, sociology, sociobiology, political science and literary studies, those interested in the concept of conscience will be able to follow a course of inquiry which informs on controversial perspectives, uncovers explanatory expectations on each of the other disciplines and crystallizes inter-disciplinary concurrence. The six defining polarities of the discourse on conscience are thereby given a contour, these being: the polarity between empirical method and the concept of conscience; the polarity between education and constancy; between reason and emotion; the polarity of universality and particularity; the polarity of freedom and the burden of the conscience, and finally the polarity between individuals and institutions.