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Civil Disobedience

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Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics

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Abstract

Civil disobedience is defined, and the several necessary elements in its definition are explained. Historic instances of civil disobedience are briefly noted. Civil disobedience is contrasted with revolution. The punishment of civil disobedience – its nature and necessity – is discussed. Two great kinds of civil disobedience are distinguished and examples given from around the globe. The higher law justification of civil disobedience is explained and criticized. A framework for the utilitarian justification of civil disobedience is provided. The moral justifiability of civil disobedience, always difficult but sometimes possible, is distinguished from the moral judgment of the disobedient.

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References

  • Arsenault, R. (2006). Freedom riders: 1961 and the struggle for racial justice. New York: Oxford University Press.

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Further Readings

  • Cohen, C. (1971). Civil disobedience: Conscience, tactics, and the law. New York: Columbia University Press.

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  • Fortas, A. (1968). Concerning dissent and civil disobedience. New York: New American Library.

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  • Zinn, H. (1968). Disobedience and democracy. New York: Random House.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Carl Cohen

Authors
  1. Carl Cohen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carl Cohen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Healthcare Ethics, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Henk ten Have

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Cohen, C. (2016). Civil Disobedience. In: ten Have, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09483-0_82

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