About this episode

Fr. David Goodill discusses Aquinas's view on conscience as the inner act of the will and its implications.

Fr. David Goodill expounds Aquinas's treatment of conscience in Summa theologiae I-II, q.19, arguing that conscience is the inner act of the will and that, even when erring, it binds the agent, such that right formation of conscience through virtue, law, and grace is essential. This lecture was given on July 24th, 2026, at Stonyhurst College. Support the Thomistic Institute Campus Chapter Program here: truth.thomisticinstitute.org/pod About the Speaker: Fr. David is Dean of Degrees, Lector, Fellow, and Provincial Bursar. He studied Philosophy in Cambridge and Manchester before entering the Dominican Order. He has a doctorate in Moral Theology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and maintains interests in both Moral Philosophy and Moral Theology. He was Prior of Oxford, and has served Blackfriars Hall and Studium as Hall Bursar, Vice-Regent, Senior Tutor and Acting Regent. He is a visiting lecturer in moral theology at St Joseph’s University, Macau. Publications: ‘Original Sense: Augustine and Wittgenstein on Religion and Origins’ in Augustine and Wittgenstein (2018); ‘Elizabeth Anscombe on Just War’ in The Moral Philosophy of Elizabeth Anscombe (2016); Nature as Guide…

People in this episode

Guest: Fr. David Goodill, O.P.

Topics covered

• Aquinas
• Conscience
• Moral Theology
• Virtue
• Inner Act of the Will

Keywords

• Aquinas
• Conscience
• Erring Conscience
• Grace
• Moral Philosophy
• Virtue
• Prudence

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Thomistic Institute, University of Fribourg, St Joseph’s University

Books & works: Summa theologiae

Places: Stonyhurst College

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