bewusste

Bewusste is a German adjective form derived from bewusst, meaning conscious, aware, or deliberate. It describes nouns and inflects for gender, number, and case, as with other attributive adjectives. In predicative position after a linking verb the form bewusst is normally used, not bewusste.

In attributive position before a noun, bewusste takes different endings depending on gender and article: die bewusste Entscheidung (feminine singular); der bewusste Mann (masculine singular); das bewusste Kind (neuter singular). In plural, with a definite article the form is bewussten: die bewussten Entscheidungen. In indefinite contexts: ein bewusster Mann; eine bewusste Frau; ein bewusstes Kind. The sense of bewusste includes both awareness and deliberateness, as in phrases like eine bewusste Entscheidung or bewusste Wahrnehmung.

Semantic scope and usage: bewusste covers conscious perception, deliberate actions, and self-awareness. It contrasts with unbewusst (unconscious) and Bewusstsein (consciousness). In philosophy and cognitive science the distinction between bewusst and unbewusst is central, as is the distinction between intentional, deliberate behavior and automatic processing. The adjective also participates in common collocations related to everyday life, such as bewusst leben (live consciously) or bewusster Konsum (conscious consumption).

Nominalization: German adjectives can be capitalized to function as nouns. In this sense, Bewusste or the plural Bewussten can refer to “the conscious one” or “the conscious people,” respectively. This usage is typical in philosophical or literary styles. See also Bewusstsein, Unbewusst.