About this episode

Fr. David Goodill discusses Aquinas's view of conscience as an act of the intellect formed by virtues.

Fr. David Goodill explains that, for Aquinas, conscience is not a power of the soul but an act of the intellect rooted in the natural habit of synderesis and formed by the virtues, above all prudence, so that it reflects the deepest interiority of the person. 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: Wittgenstein and…

People in this episode

Guest: Fr. David Goodill

Topics covered

• Aquinas
• Conscience
• Moral Theology
• Prudence
• Synderesis
• Virtue

Keywords

• Aquinas
• Conscience
• Free Choice
• Intellect
• Justice
• Prudence
• Synderesis
• Virtue
• Moral Philosophy
• Moral Theology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Thomistic Institute

Books & works: Summa Theologiae, Original Sense: Augustine and Wittgenstein on Religion and Origins, Elizabeth Anscombe on Just War, Nature as Guide: Wittgenstein and the Renewal of Moral Theology

Places: Stonyhurst College, Switzerland

More episodes of The Thomistic Institute

• Iconoclastic and Incarnational Church Architecture - Fr. Irenaeus Dunlevy, O.P. · September 11, 2026 · 1h 5m
• Aquinas on Conscience and the Inner Act of the Will - Fr. David Goodill, O.P. · September 9, 2026 · 48 min
• Conscience First, and to the Pope Afterwards - Prof. Lewis Ayres · September 8, 2026 · 32 min
• Newman Against Hitler: Reflections on Ratzinger - Prof. Lewis Ayres · September 7, 2026 · 35 min
• Imagination and Conscience - Prof. Medi Volpe · September 4, 2026 · 31 min
• Conscience in Everyday Life - Prof. Medi Volpe · September 3, 2026 · 38 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Thomistic Institute podcast page.