Regimes of Twentieth-Century Germany by Marc T. Voss

Author:Marc T. Voss [T. Voss, Marc]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Moral consciousness

Moral consciousness deals with the categories of good versus bad, the competence to differentiate between and reflect on the societal norms of the past and the present, and based on such moral reflection, to arrive at a conclusion on whether an event or development is to be considered good or bad, or right or wrong (Pandel, 2005, 20). Important in this context is also an understanding of the transformations and changes of societal norms over time since these can be interpreted in various ways by societies at different times.

Moral consciousness directly interacts with Aktionsbewusstsein in that it provides the basis for evaluating events and, as a result, a potential justification to act. Whether it is appropriate to judge past eras with the norms of the time or with those of today is debatable. Pandel suggests that history lessons ought to focus on both (Pandel, 2005, 20). Yet, as I have argued in section 5.1.1, while it is certainly important to understand past norms and associated judgments, the assessment of good versus bad should ultimately be based on universal inalienable human rights that by definition will remain constant over time.3

The above discussion has shown that Aktionsbewusstsein interacts with each of Pandel’s seven dimensions in various ways. While there are no clear-cut boundaries between the dimensions and all should be seen as somewhat fluid, they can combine in multiple manifestations to form an image or perception that learners can interpret and understand, and that form a predisposition or readiness for assessing whether or not an event or development commands, or would have commanded, action. Aktionsbewusstsein can and should therefore be integrated into Pandel’s structure of historical consciousness. Figure 5.2 is based on Hartmann Wunderer’s visual representation of Pandel’s model and illustrates my attempt to complement the framework with the action consciousness dimension.

The definition of action consciousness as predisposition or expressed desire to act suggests that the notion of Aktionsbewusstsein is part of the group comprising the sociality dimensions. Moreover, while temporal consciousness describes the phenomenon of yesterday–today–tomorrow; moral consciousness of right–wrong; identity consciousness of we–you–they; change consciousness of static–changing; reality consciousness of fiction–non-fiction; economic–social consciousness of rich–poor; and political consciousness of the upwards–downwards relationships of dominance structures and classes, the categories of action consciousness can be described by the opposites perceived need to act – yes versus no.

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