Conscience is an ability or a faculty that distinguishes whether one's actions are right or wrong. It leads to feelings of remorse when one does things that go against his/her moral values, and to feelings of rectitude or integrity when one's actions conform to our moral values. It is also the attitude which informs one's moral judgment before performing any action.

The extent to which such moral judgments are based in reason has been a matter of controversy almost throughout the history of Western philosophy. Commonly used metaphors refer to the "voice of conscience" or "voice within." Views of conscience are not mutually exclusive. Although there is no generally accepted definition of what conscience is or what its role in ethical decision-making is, there are three main factors that determine which stance is adopted.

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