Topic > Laws of Life: The Role of Consciousness in Kazuo Ishiguro

What exactly are the "laws of life"? They are the moral compasses that guide our decisions, the principles on which we build our actions, and the ethical standards by which we live. Each individual has their own set of laws of life, shaped by their upbringing, experiences and personal beliefs. However, in the complexity of navigating life's dilemmas, one constant remains: conscience. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay For me, the cornerstone of my life laws is listening to and following my conscience. Conscience serves as a beacon of morality, directing us towards what we perceive as right and just. It is a powerful internal force that can guide us through the labyrinthine paths of life, helping us distinguish between right and wrong. However, to follow his guidance, we must first learn to distinguish between our consciousness and intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts, as defined by Lecia Bushak from the Medical Daily website, are unwelcome and often disturbing ideas or impulses that intrude into our consciousness. These intrusive thoughts can manifest themselves in various forms, from fleeting urges to self-harm to disturbing fantasies of violence. They are like unwanted guests in the house of our mind, disturbing our peace and threatening to lead us astray. According to Bushak, four out of five people experience intrusive thoughts at some point in their lives, including me. The challenge is to distinguish between the whispers of our consciousness and the clamor of intrusive thoughts. While conscience serves as a moral compass, guiding us towards virtuous actions, intrusive thoughts try to lead us astray, tempting us into harmful behavior. The key distinction lies in their intentions: conscience does not advocate harm to oneself or others, while intrusive thoughts often involve destructive impulses. Guilt, a powerful emotion closely linked to conscience, serves as a barometer of moral errors. When we act inconsistently with our moral principles, guilt acts as a corrective force, pushing us back onto the path of righteousness. It is a testament to the influence of conscience that guilt can weigh heavily on our hearts, forcing us to rectify our transgressions and strive for moral integrity. I realized that not everyone possesses the same level of conscience or sensitivity to moral dilemmas. Some individuals may harbor a keen awareness of their own moral failings, acutely experiencing guilt at every misstep. Others, however, may display a dull conscience, seemingly unaffected by their moral errors. This discrepancy in moral sensitivity raises the question: why do people vary in their levels of consciousness? The insidious nature of intrusive thoughts lies in their potential to erode consciousness over time. Like a parasite, intrusive thoughts gradually infiltrate the recesses of the mind, corrupting the moral fabric of our being. As we entertain these intrusive thoughts, indulging in fantasies of illicit behavior, we unintentionally reduce the influence of our consciousness. Gradually, our moral compass becomes distorted and we find ourselves deviating further and further from the path of righteousness. Mark Hall of Casting Crowns aptly describes this gradual descent into moral decay as a “slow fade.” Just like a snowball rolling downhill, our moral compromises build momentum, taking us down a slippery slope toward moral depravity. What begins as a fleeting thought or impulse can turn into a pattern of.