Single Question: On the Species of Conscience — On the Part of the Object and at the Same Time of the Subject

112. State of the question. - On the part of the object and at the same time of the subject, various species of defective conscience are distinguished, according as on one side it is not certain because assent is not firm, and on the other side it is not right because the object is not true. All these are easily reduced to three genera: narrow and scrupulous consciences, laxior and lax consciences, and perplexed consciences, according as it hesitantly and erroneously judges either by increasing the evil, or by diminishing it, or by suspecting it on each side.

To these is opposed a prudent and well-formed conscience, which, certain conditions being given, on account of its perfection is called God-fearing (godvreezend geweten) if it reasonably and with tranquillity fears sin, from filial fear toward God whom it would wish to offend in nothing; or tender (teeder, fijn, nauwkeurig geweten) and delicate if it solicitously notices and judges the smallest defects, but prudently and according to the norm of truth.

We shall speak: 1) of perplexed conscience;

2. of lax conscience;

3. of scrupulous conscience.