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Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics pp 1–9Cite as

Civil Disobedience

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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

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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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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Carl Cohen

Authors
  1. Carl Cohen
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Correspondence to Carl Cohen .

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Editors and Affiliations

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

    Henk ten Have

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© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Cohen, C. (2015). Civil Disobedience. In: ten Have, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_82-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_82-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-05544-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

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