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This raises the question: Does conscience, which is individual, override norms set up by society, law and religious teaching Many writers believe that conscience should decide what is right or wrong. Individual conscience has the right of independently determining the criteria of good and evil and then acting accordingly. This results in an “individualistic ethic, wherein each individual is faced with his own truth, different from the truth of others.” Fortunately, dictates of individual conscience and social ethics often coincide.
But nowadays we witness many situations where individuals and groups are aggressively voicing personal and maverick views which run counter to national ethos. They do so in the name of individual conscience and right of dissent. But dissent should not be irresponsible, or just a way of attracting attention by making shocking statements. Views should not override requirements of national security, social cohesion and our cultural ethos. One should avoid voicing fashionable and chic ideas in the name of individual conscience. These are often ways of sensationalizing things during TV appearances. One should not trivialize serious matters of conscience or apply them to inappropriate situations. Current examples include slogans of ‘aazadi’ in some universities (as if we are living under foreign rule), not getting up during national anthem or ridiculing national symbols. We have also discussed these issues in the chapter on political attitudes.