Conscious Conscience

The White House scene in Oppenheimer demonstrates the need for a conscious conscience. The American Prometheus sits in the room with President Truman to whom he gave the destructive fire. He says, “Mr. President, I feel I have blood on my hands.” According to the story, Harry Truman did not have any problem using the atomic bombs to end the war with Japan. We have debated the point for many years now. J. Robert Oppenheimer possessed a conscious conscience. Harry Truman possessed a conscience. Apparently, it was not a conscious one.

What Do You Mean By Conscious?

Empathy is to understand the suffering of others. Yet, one can be aware of the depth or power of one’s actions as the cause of suffering in others. Looking at the example of Oppenheimer, he understood he was building a weapon meant to destroy thousands of people with a single use. His conscience plays an interesting game throughout the story. The weapon must be made before the Germans have a chance to build it. They will kill thousands of us if we do not.

The second part of the game is a claim of ignorance. The builder of the bomb cannot know for sure if it can be done. Nor can he be certain as to the exact power yielded by it. It does not matter if these things are true. They provide a certain comfort about what one is doing and sacrificing in the process.

An Example

“Do you not know I have the power to release you and power to crucify you?” (John 19:10b)

Pilate asks Jesus this from his own frustration. He is conscious of what he can and cannot do. Pilate is able to take the life of certain people. He can only give life through a pardon. Yet, Jesus neither denies the charges nor begs for mercy. Pilate is out of his depth. Jesus does not follow the script.

Pilate is conscious that he will be guilty of a great wrong in killing Jesus. But he is trapped in his own power. He can keep the peace. Or he can risk riots. Pilate has no empathy. He is aware of the power and responsibility in his hands which is why in other texts he washes them.

Conscious Power Traps

Pilate was competent. He could be ruthless. Many people like him are in positions of authority today. He is the man of the hierarchy. And, as said earlier, he is also trapped by it. If anyone claims in his place they would have done differently, let them take his place before they say anything with certainty.

Systemic evils appear to be impossibly immense in scope. The power trap does not encourage any conscious conscience. If a person tries to realign the system, they will find it destroying their good work eventually. Exposing systemic evil requires people with conscious consciences. They will either resolve to obliterate the system or will give it a little humanity for a time.

Oppenheimer and Pilate were trapped by the power struggle around them. What will the rest of us do?

The Systemic Problem

The corporate structure of our social order is replicated in government, churches, non-profits, and even family life (the latter is especially true when people pattern family life on reality TV personalities). And every time it is replicated it brings with it the same inefficiencies, dodging responsibility, and repressive measures to the organization. I cannot think of a better argument for not following corporate patterns anymore. But we are hard pressed to find an alternative structure other than syndicalism.

Would that be worth trying? If so, where do we begin dismantling what is in place while causing the least pain in doing it?