Arguments on the subject of conscience exam. An essay in the exam format about conscience (according to the text of S.S. Kachalkov, a modern prose writer)

The problem of conscience is relevant today. After all, it often influences our decisions. Thanks to this excerpt from Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, we can analyze this issue in more detail.

We see the prosecutor Pilate, on whose choice the life of Ha-Notsri depends. He can either act according to his conscience and save the life of the “mad philosopher”, or choose a career.

In the end, his decision brought only suffering. The author of the novel showed how important it is to remain human, to empathize with others.

This problem is relevant

and today. People are increasingly becoming selfish on the way to a career and a device. This leads to moral values gradually disappear into oblivion. On the example of Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita" we see how more and more people accept those principles and the ideology that allows them to shut their mouths of conscience and do what they want.

Any government should not only count on profit, but also act in good conscience, worrying about the fate of the people. Conscience helps a person to do the right thing. Only in this way can success be achieved. Let it be a difficult path and thorny, but it will be honest. Then,

whatever man creates, it will stand on a solid foundation, and its foundation will not be shaken.

Yes, Pilate agreed to the execution. Even though it didn't please him. He was an unfortunate man who could not step over himself and get out of his comfort zone. He thought it would be best for him, but he was wrong. Pilate's torment is a consequence of his cowardice and unwillingness to heed his conscience.


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Text essay:

"Where did the human conscience come from"? "Is it possible to cultivate a conscience"? "Does a person's conscience depend on the degree of his civilization"? Over these extremely important modern society Fazil Iskander, a well-known Soviet and Russian prose writer and poet, discusses questions.

The author addresses the problem of the origin and education of conscience. The urgency of the problem raised is undoubted, since today in society there is clearly an acute shortage of a moral quality called human conscience.

In order to draw the reader's attention to such a serious problem, the writer expresses paradoxical, at first glance, thoughts about "that, as a rule, it is the unscrupulous who defeat the conscientious." It would seem that conscience as a moral measure should die like a dinosaur in such a situation. But, in spite of everything, "she continues to live as the highest property human soul". Why is this happening? The author is convinced that if he finds an answer to this most difficult question of modern humanity, then it (humanity) will “come to its senses”, and conscience will become a reality of our life. In search of an answer to his question, F. Iskander talks about the conscience of enslaved peoples: only when the conscience wakes up and is indignant at violence and cruelty, then the long-awaited freedom comes. Absolute consent The reader is tempted to think that fascist Germany would not have survived to this day, since states based on the shamelessness of the nation do not last long. Further reasoning leads the author to the assumption: "Does a person's conscience depend on the degree of his civilization"? F. Iskander's answer is unequivocal: no, the degree of conscientiousness does not depend on the degree of civilization.

So where and in what should one look for the “core” of conscience? According to the author, the source of conscience lies in education, when correct, conscientious behavior over time, under the influence of generally accepted norms, becomes a habit of a person.

It is impossible not to agree with this conclusion. famous writer: conscience is a moral quality of a person, which is the result of proper education. Weakly expressed, every person has this quality of personality, but it is upbringing that contributes to the formation of conscientiousness - the main measure of all human actions.

Many Russian writers reflect the problem of conscience and its upbringing in their works. For example, in V. Rasputin's story "Farewell to Matyora", grandmother Daria, who does not understand how it is possible: to build houses, keep life in them for so many years, now shamelessly flood both the village and the cemetery where all her ancestors are buried. She says: “The main thing for a person is to have a conscience and not suffer from conscience!” Here he is, moral lesson, which was taught by this elderly woman to "Ivans who do not remember kinship" - to those young residents of Matera who are ready to leave their native places.

V.P. Astafiev in the story "Horse with pink mane". The protagonist only then realized all the immorality of his deceit, when the grandmother, a simple village woman, with her kindness and wisdom, showed the boy an example of conscience as the highest property of the human soul.

So, we can conclude that conscience is one of the main moral qualities personality, which is formed by proper education, does not depend on the degree of civilization and education and is an internal "guard" that does not allow inner world human vulgarity, rudeness, cruelty and selfishness.

Text by Fazil Iskander:

1) Where did the human conscience come from? (2) If we proceed from the assumption that in the struggle for existence, the more conscientious defeat the less conscientious, just as strong animals defeat the weak, we will run into a dead end.
(3)Practice our today's life shows that, as a rule, it is the unscrupulous who defeat the conscientious. (4) Unconscience attacks insidiously and unexpectedly, and conscience is not ready for an attack - after all, it first of all guards not the enemy, but ourselves. (5) If conscience had an earthly origin, it would have died out long ago, like a dinosaur. (6) And, nevertheless, she continues to live as the highest property of the human soul.

(7) Various kinds of political villains tried to prove that conscience is just an archaic prejudice, that it has a class or racial character. (8) The peoples who adopted such teachings were freed from the brakes of conscience, acquired dynamic strength and relatively easily conquered other peoples. (9) But in the end their victorious empires invariably collapsed. (10) I think that the conscience of the enslaved peoples by this time had time to wake up and be indignant. (11) And a person with an indignant conscience becomes stronger than a scoundrel.

(12) Imagine that Hitler, having established an unscrupulous state in Germany, would stop there, and then there is no reason to deny that this state would have survived to this day. (13) But the fact is that shamelessness knows no boundaries, does not know where to stop.

(14) Almost all modern developed states exist more or less stably, because they consider themselves conscientious, yes, in general, they try to be conscientious.

(15) Does the conscience of a person depend on the degree of his civilization? (16) Hardly. (17) I met old women in the villages who have the most wild performances about the real state of the world and at the same time living according to the laws of the most refined conscience. (18) And I met highly educated people who did not embarrass themselves in choosing means.

(19) Is it possible to cultivate a conscience? (20) In addition to the rarest freaks, every person has a conscience, although weakly expressed. (21) If a person with a weak conscience gets into a team that he values, he tries to adhere to generally accepted moral standards. (22) At first, he is ashamed not so much of an unscrupulous act as of announcing it. (23) But this is already education, and, as in any education, correct behavior over time becomes a habit.

(24) And the most dangerous thing for the country is state dishonesty. (25) The people respond to the lies of the state with a thousandfold lies, completely refusing to fulfill their civic duties. (26) From this, things are getting worse for the state, and, trying to hide it, lies again. (27) The people respond to new lies accordingly. (28) And so on ad infinitum, to anarchy and rebellion.

(29)B Lately I rarely write poetry. (30) But this topic did not fit into prose alone.

……………………………………………………………………

(31) Of course, you can say a lot, Much is clear between the lines. (32) Conscience is, friends, the reality of God, And the reality of conscience is God.

Once in the Russian language, the word "conscience" carried the meaning of a message, a hint that a person could use ("conscience"). And this hint always came in the form of a certain feeling, with the help of which one could determine the correctness of one's actions.

How is this phenomenon viewed now?

If the deed was done right, a feeling of inner satisfaction, self-confidence, pride came. This is the first thing a student can indicate in his essay. But if a person committed an unseemly act, then after that he experienced a feeling of guilt, longing and annoyance. And this was and is the negative side of the experience of conscience. Let's dwell on this in more detail.

The problem of conscience in modern psychology is usually considered from the point of view of its negative influence. It is considered a source of unnecessary guilt, depression. It is known that the philosopher F. Nietzsche treated conscience in this way. He believed that it was directly related to guilt. Emphasizing at the same time that it is a kind of internal "tribunal". With the help of this feeling, a person is always subordinate to society.

What do philosophy and theology say?

Conscience often merges with guilt, shame. The problem of conscience has been discussed since Ancient Greece. For example, the orator Cicero said: "Conscience means more to me than the conversations of everyone around."

IN ancient Greek culture there was the concept of "en teos", or "inner god". Now the closest term to it is the word "intuition". In Orthodoxy, conscience is explained as "the voice of God within a person." Its supporters believe that a person can communicate with God without intermediaries with the help of conscience.

In the essay "The Problem of Conscience" one can also mention the attitude towards this issue ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. He sought to revive the tradition of listening to the "inner god". He claimed that every person has a "personal daimonion" ("demon"). Socrates believed that through communication with him, a person acquires real morality, becomes truly free. But the philosopher was accused of rejecting the authority of authorities and negatively influencing the youth, and then executed.

P. A. Golbach called conscience an “inner judge”. Shame and responsibility are the highest moral qualities, which eventually became common to all mankind. A person who is able to regulate his own actions, regardless of the influence of external factors, is called morally mature.

For a normal person, the problem of conscience is solved only by a fulfilled duty, because otherwise he will be punished in the form of internal remorse. You can hide from others, get away from any events. However, it is impossible to get away from yourself.

How is conscience formed?

The problem of conscience is of interest to many researchers in the field of psychology. For example, the phenomenon of child cruelty allows us to conclude that children, like animals, do not know conscience. It is not an innate instinct. It is believed that the mechanism of the emergence of conscience is as follows:

  • Adults teach the child to distinguish between the concepts of "good" and "evil".
  • This distinction is established in the process of reinforcing good behavior and punishing bad behavior.
  • At the same time, the child is not only punished, but also explained why his actions turned out to be bad.
  • Then, as the child grows older, he learns to self-condemn for his wrongdoings.

Conscience in Literature

One of the most frequently cited arguments from the literature on the problem of conscience is the moral dilemma of Rodion Raskolnikov. The protagonist of F. M. Dostoevsky's novel "Crime and Punishment" decides to kill. Raskolnikov is embittered because of his impotence to help his relatives, depressed because of poverty. He longs for revenge for the poor people and decides to kill the disgusting old money-lender. The problem of conscience in this work is revealed in the actions of the protagonist: he makes a deal with himself. The crime should prove to Raskolnikov that he is not a "trembling creature", but "a ruler who can create the fate of people."

At first, he is not at all touched by the crime that he committed, because the hero is confident in the correctness of his own actions. But over time, doubts begin to overcome him, he begins to overestimate the correctness of the perfect act. And such torments of conscience are absolutely natural - after all, an unlawful and immoral act was committed.

One more example

The student can use in the essay “The Problem of Conscience” arguments from literature that is not included in school curriculum. He could read these books on his own. For example, the novel by M. Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita" also covers this problem. The writer's question of conscience reaches a huge, all-human scale. Pontius Pilate, one of the main actors works, did not sacrifice his career to save the innocent Yeshua. For this, the prosecutor's conscience should be tormented for two millennia.

However, later Pilate is forgiven, because he realizes his guilt and repents. Everything falls into place, the "harmony of the world" is restored. On the topic "The problem of conscience", arguments at the exam can be convincing only if the student has worked through the topic on his own. After all, otherwise there is a high risk of bringing inaccuracies in the essay and receiving an unsatisfactory assessment. If the student knows literary works and is able to correctly express own opinion about the problem - it's a pledge successful delivery exam.

Conscience is a major issue that almost all writers touch on in their books. Therefore, it is often found in texts to prepare for the exam. In this collection you will find examples from the literature that illustrate one or another facet of this problem. And at the end of the work there is a link to download the table with arguments.

  1. M. A. Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita. When Yeshua appears, Pontius Pilate begins to show feelings of sympathy for a person who is not guilty of anything. The hero is torn between his ideas of duty to Caesar and what is commonly called "conscience". He sympathizes with the unfortunate prophet, realizing that he is only a victim of circumstances and a stupid crowd that misrepresents his words. The thought arose in his head to cancel the execution and the forthcoming torment. But his status does not allow him to do a worthy deed - to help Yeshua. When the high priest releases the thief and murderer in exchange for the unfortunate philosopher, the procurator does not intervene, because he is afraid of the wrath of the "hated city" incited by the clergy. His cowardice and prejudice against Yeshua's faith overwhelmed his sense of justice.
  2. M. Yu. Lermontov, "A Hero of Our Time". The main character, Pechorin, stole the charming savage Bela from the village. The girl did not love him then, and she was too young for marriage. But her family was in no hurry to help. For them, the kidnapping of a woman is a common thing. National prejudices prevent them from hearing the voice of conscience, which says that Bela is worthy a better life that she can choose her own path. But she was disposed of like a thing, like a horse, as if she had no feelings and no mind. Therefore, the tragic ending of the chapter is understandable: another woman hunter lies in wait for the victim and kills her. Alas, where there is no respect for the individual, there is no way to live normally. Unscrupulous orders allow people to deprive those who are weaker of their rights and freedoms, and this cannot end well.

The problem of remorse

  1. A. S. Pushkin, "The Captain's Daughter". Petrusha Grinev on the first evening adulthood lost a sum of one hundred rubles in cards. He needed to repay the debt. Then he asked his tutor, the serf Savelich, to give him the amount necessary to repay the debt. He, in turn, refused the request. Petrusha after that began to demand, raising his voice at him, then the old man had to give the young man money. After that, Petrusha felt remorse, shame, because the old man was right: he was really deceived, and he, not seeing his own stupidity, unleashed anger on a devoted servant. Then the hero realized that he had no moral right to humiliate anyone because of his own impracticality. He apologized and made peace with Savelich, because his conscience tormented his soul.
  2. V. Bykov, Sotnikov. Partizan Sotnikov is being held captive by the Nazis. One night, memories of childhood come to him, when he took his father's Mauser without asking, which accidentally fired. After, on the advice of his mother, he confessed to him what he had done, as his conscience gnawed at him. The story that happened left a strong mark on him. later life. After that, Sotnikov did not deceive his father, did not take anything without asking, he acted only as moral duty dictates. Sparing no life, he defends his homeland until last frontier. Enduring terrible agony of torture, he did not surrender his comrades, took all the blame on himself, saving other captives. This is what is called "living in good conscience."

The problem of conscience and responsibility

  1. V. Astafiev, "A horse with a pink mane." In this story, the protagonist had a hard time confessing his mistake. Vitya decided to deceive his grandmother and put a lot of grass at the bottom of the basket with strawberries, which had to be sold. He played with the boys and did not have time to collect enough berries. After a mean act, his conscience begins to torment him. In the morning he decides to confess his deed, but the elderly woman has already gone to the city. There she was ridiculed, reproached for dishonest trading. After the grandmother returns home, Vitya begins to sincerely repent, realizing his wrong. He answered for his deceit, did not hide it, but confessed. It is conscience that is the guarantor of responsibility: without it, a person does not realize that he has a moral duty to society, family and himself.
  2. A. Kuprin, "Garnet Bracelet". The work tells about Zheltkov, who is madly in love with married woman Vera Shein. He keeps writing love letters to her, knowing she won't answer. For the heroine, this was a pleasant gesture, which she then got tired of, and she asked him not to write to her anymore. At the end of the story, the man cannot stand it and commits suicide because he cannot stop loving the lady of his heart. Vera only after his death realizes that she may have lost true and pure love. As can be seen from this example, it was the conscience that provided the hero with an understanding of responsibility to his beloved. He did not try to destroy the family, did not compromise the woman, did not annoy with his attention. He understood that the bonds of marriage were sacred, that he had no moral right to interfere in the married life of the Sheins. Therefore, he was content with little, and when this became a burden to Vera, he simply died, realizing that it was his duty to let the married lady go and leave her alone. But he couldn't leave her any other way.
  3. The problem of lack of conscience

    1. M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, “The conscience is gone.” In this tale, the problem of conscience is raised. Saltykov-Shchedrin used allegory and showed human quality in the form of a rag that passes from hand to hand. Throughout the book, every character tries to get rid of her. A pitiful bastard, the owner of a drinking house, a warden, a financier: they cannot accept a heavy burden, torment and torture of the soul. They have always lived without a conscience, so it will be easier for them without it, without an "annoying host".
    2. F. M. Dostoevsky, "Crime and Punishment". In the novel, the lack of conscience manifests itself in Arkady Svidrigailov. Throughout his life, he corrupted young girls and ruined the fate of people. The meaning of life for him was voluptuousness, which he selfishly sought in every victim. In the finale, the hero feels a sense of remorse, provides assistance to Marmeladova's children after the death of their mother and asks for forgiveness from Dunya Raskolnikova, whom he disgraced by his behavior and almost forced into a marriage of convenience. Alas, a sense of moral duty woke up in him late: his personality was already decomposing from vices and sins. The memory of them drove him crazy, and he could not stand the pangs of conscience.
    3. The problem of manifestation of conscience

      1. V. Shukshin, "Red Kalina". Yegor Kudin, main character, was a criminal. Because of his activities, he brought a lot of grief to his mother. Many years later, the man met her, but did not dare to confess to her that he was her son. He didn't want to hurt her anymore, hurt her. It is the conscience that makes Yegor remain unknown to the elderly woman. Of course, his choice can be challenged, but, nevertheless, he deserves respect for late regret. And morality rewarded him for this effort of will: only thanks to conscience at the end of the story does Kudin not fall to the bottom of immorality.
      2. A. Pushkin, "The Captain's Daughter". Pugachev was a cruel and domineering leader, he ruthlessly exterminated entire recalcitrant cities. But when a nobleman appeared in front of him, who helped him not to freeze on the road, giving him a fur coat, the man could not execute him in cold blood. He felt grateful towards the honest and kind young man. The rebel let him go, knowing that the young man would face him in battle. Nevertheless, conscience triumphed in this harsh warrior. He understood that he went to war with the Empress in order to protect freedom and life. ordinary people, and not in order to kill the lord's children. He had even more moral superiority than the Russian Empress.

In the fairy tale "for children of a fair age," Saltykov-Shchedrin raises the problem of conscience. Using allegory, he depicts this human quality in the form of a rag, an old unnecessary rag, which everyone wants to get rid of. First, she falls into the hands of a miserable drunkard, then to the owner of the drinking house, then to the quarter warden Lovets, after which she passed to the financier Samuil Davydovich Brzhotsky. Passing from hand to hand, conscience excites in each new owner an explosion of emotions, suffering and torment, the only way out of which can be death. Sins committed, greed, crimes against honor - all this is a heavy burden. At the end of the tale, the author conveys the plea of ​​conscience, which asks to be put into the soul of the baby. Small man would have grown up with her and no longer sought to get rid of his conscience, so that he would go through life, commensurate his steps with this respectable human quality.

2. V. Bykov "Sotnikov"

In the story, the protagonist of the partisans Sotnikov, being captured by the Nazis, suffers torture, but does not give out important information. On the night before the execution, he recalls an episode from childhood that left a deep imprint on his soul. Once he took without asking his father's premium Mauser, which suddenly fired. Mom knew about it as soon as she entered the room. On her advice, the boy confessed his deed to his father, who softened his anger at mercy, because he considered that the son himself had guessed to confess. And again Sotnikov Jr. shook his head. This cowardly nod remained in my memory for the rest of my life: “It was already too much - a lie to buy father's thanks, his eyes darkened, blood rushed to his face, and he stood, unable to move.” Pangs of conscience haunted him all his life: "And he never lied to either his father or anyone else, he held the answer for everything, looking people in the eyes." So an insignificant episode in a person's life can decide the fate and determine all actions.

3. A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter"

Petrusha Grinev, after the first evening of his adult life, lost a hundred rubles in a circle of new friends. This money was a significant amount. When he demanded from Savelich that he give him the necessary amount to repay the debt, the uncle, a serf, Petrusha's tutor, suddenly opposed. He said that he would not give money. Then Pyotr Andreevich demanded, applying the harsh severity of the master: “I am your master, and you are my servant. My money. I lost them because I felt like it." The debt was returned, but remorse arose in Petrusha's soul: he felt guilty before Savelich. And only after asking for forgiveness and giving a promise that from now on only he, a faithful servant, will manage all the means, Grinev calmed down. But henceforth he no longer argued with Savelich on financial matters.

4. L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

Nikolai Rostov lost money to Dolokhov. The amount was astronomical - forty-three thousand rubles. This is after his father asked him not to spend too much, as the family's financial situation is critical. But, despite this, the debt of honor must be paid. Nikolai asks his father for money in a deliberately casual, even rude tone, saying that this happens to everyone. When Ilya Andreevich agrees to give his son the necessary amount, he, sobbing, shouts: “Daddy! pa ... hemp! … excuse me! “And, seizing his father’s hand, he pressed his lips to it and wept.” After that, Nikolai made a promise to himself never to sit down at the card table and to do everything to improve the well-being of the family.


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