Collapse of Conscience

Photo: harveymackay.com

The phrase "collapse of conscience" is a powerful metaphor used to describe a profound moral failure—when individuals, institutions, or societies lose their ability to distinguish right from wrong, or choose to ignore that distinction altogether.

🧠 What It Means

A collapse of conscience typically refers to:

• The erosion of empathy, compassion, and ethical judgment

• A failure to act in the face of injustice or suffering

• The normalization of cruelty, indifference, or moral hypocrisy

It’s often used in contexts where human rights are violated or where silence and inaction enable atrocities.

🕊️ Why It Matters

When conscience collapses:

• Justice is delayed or denied

• Victims are dehumanized

• Moral leadership is absent

It’s a call to reawaken our shared humanity and to act with integrity, even when it’s inconvenient or unpopular.