CONSCIOUSNESS OR CONSCIENCE?

In everyday language “consciousness” and “conscience” are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference, especially in medical, philosophical or psychological contexts.

• Consciousness (with an s):
  • Refers to the state of being conscious, i.e., awake, alert, and in touch with the environment.
  • It is the term most commonly used in medicine and neuroscience.
  • Example: The patient regained consciousness after the operation.

• Consciousness (with c):
  • Refers more to the ability to discern between right and wrong, or to have reflective awareness of one's actions and the reality around us.
  • It is more common in philosophy, ethics and moral psychology.
  • Example: He has a clear conscience because he knows he acted correctly.

Consciousness is a neurological function that relates to the alertness of our brain, which can be altered by a variety of factors, including diseases (e.g. meningitis, epilepsy, tumors), injuries (e.g. head trauma, brain hemorrhage), substances (e.g. drugs, alcohol), psychological or sensory experiences (e.g. hypnosis, meditation) and ANESTHESIA.

These alterations may manifest as a decrease in alertness (drowsiness, lethargy), changes in perception or thinking (confusion, stupor) or even complete loss of consciousness (coma).

UNCONSCIOUSNESS = LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

But then why do we say “loss of consciousness” if the correct thing would be “loss of consciousness”?

The main reason is historical-linguistic and popular usage:

• In common Spanish usage, “conciencia” has been the most widespread form for a long time, even when referring to the state of alertness (what in medicine is called conscience).
• That is why expressions such as “perder la conciencia”, “recobrar la conciencia”, etc., have become so commonplace that even in medical contexts some professionals continue to use them by mistake, out of habit or to make themselves understood by the general public.

So is it totally incorrect to say “loss of consciousness”?

• Technically, yes: in medicine and neuroscience, it is more accurate to say “loss of consciousness”, since it refers to an observable brain function (level of alertness, response to stimuli).
• Linguistically, not quite: the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) accepts both forms and explains that “conciencia” can be used with the meaning of “conscience” in some contexts, although it recommends differentiating them when there is a risk of confusion.

So, as a practical summary, saying “loss of consciousness” is not a serious error, but in clinical or scientific contexts “loss of consciousness” is preferred to avoid ambiguity, since “conscience” can also refer to the moral or introspective.