The Perspective of Conscience for Health Professionals in Various Religions Worldwide

Document Type : Short Communication

Author

Dental Assistant Surgeon, Department of Dentistry, Government General Hospital, Manjeri, India

10.30476/rhm.2024.104297.1246

Abstract

The concept of conscience among health professionals is decreasing worldwide in the current context. The theoretical aspect of conscience was explained by the renowned third-century philosopher Aristotle, while the practical side was discussed by the thirteenth-century philosopher Thomas Aquinas. This short note explores the view of conscience across various religions around the world. The nature of the mind and its functions, such as mindfulness and contemplation, are central to Buddhist ideas about conscience. In Hinduism, the material part of a person (prakriti) and the nonmaterial part (purusha) together form the full person. Hindu texts including the four Vedas, the Puranas, the Laws of Manu, the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata provide profound insights into morality, ethics, human behaviour, well-being, and righteous conduct. In the New Testament of the Holy Bible, conscience is viewed as an internal guide for future actions. In Islam, the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) serve as key references for conscience.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 4
November 2025
Pages 363-366

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