
Where does our conscience come from? How reliable is it? In the West conscience has been relied upon for two thousand years as a judgement that distinguishes right from wrong It has effortlessly moved through every period division & timeline between the ancient medieval & modern The Romans identified it the early Christians appropriated it & Reformation Protestants & loyal Catholics relied upon its advice & admonition Today it is embraced with equal conviction by non-religious & religious alike Considering its deep historical roots & exploring what it has meant to successive generations Paul Strohm highlights why this particularly European concept deserves its reputation as 'one of the prouder Western contributions to human rights & human dignity throughout the world' Using examples from popular culture including the Disney classic Pinocchio as well as examples from contemporary politics he explores the work of thinkers such as Nietzsche Freud & Aquinas to show how & why conscience remains a motivating & important principle in the contemporary world ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable