Hardly any ethics in modern times has appeared without pointing out the need for an independent treatment of the doctrine of conscience. The author has felt the same need in his lectures on Christian ethics, and this is primarily what gives rise to this work. Rudolf Hugo Hofmann describes the concept of conscience and its historical development in this still relevant work. He explains the nature of conscience and conscience as a binding force. Hofmann illuminates the various aspects of conscience. This book is a careful reprint of the long out-of-print original edition from 1866.