Research On Arendt's Theory Of Conscience

During the transformation from traditional society to modern society,the collapse of moral system has deprived those people of the observable code,thus leading to a series of moral crisis and even seriously affecting the positive development of the society.Hence,those people have to confront the major moral issue of how to pursue a life of good conscience.Hannah Arendt who is a Jewish philosopher once made reflection on the conscience,which can provide a new insight into this research.As noted by Hannah Arendt,the secularized modern society has made the morality devoid of the lofty sense in the traditional times.The morality has also descended into a custom that can be replaced anytime.Under this circumstance,those ordinary people will be occupied in concerning themselves with the personal interest excessively,which brews the social phenomena featured by the banality of evil.The few who can adhere to the moral code will retain their conscience,thus bringing hope to the dark age.The conscience will require them to develop the ability to confront their inner world and make the self-reflection.Firstly,the ability can form the long-term memory and thus develop the internal constraint.Secondly,the self-reflection can also help form the sound thinking and judgment to distinguish between right and wrong.However,the fact that only the few can adhere to their conscience is not adequate to change the moral status in the whole society.The moral conduct should be based on the inner conscience as well as the external system and condition.The conscience of the individual will be brought into play only if the development of public sphere and the cultivation of citizenship spirit can be realized.