The Historical Path of the Emergence of the Term "Conscience"

Abstract

This research addresses the historical development of the term and concept of "Conscience." The study traces the roots of this concept in ancient civilizations and monotheistic religions, leading to its crystallization in the modern era, with a focus on its linguistic and idiomatic evolution. It explores the idea of conscience in the civilizations of Mesopotamia, the Nile Valley, the Greeks, and the Romans, as well as in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic laws. Additionally, it examines the linguistic root of the concept of conscience and its idiomatic definition, while also touching upon related concepts such as remorse (pangs of conscience), satisfaction of conscience, and the human conscience.