Why conscience matters : A theory of conscience and its relevance to conscientious objection in medicine
Journal article
Symons, Xavier. (2023). Why conscience matters : A theory of conscience and its relevance to conscientious objection in medicine. Res Publica. 29(1), pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11158-022-09555-2
Authors | Symons, Xavier |
---|---|
Abstract | Conscience is an idea that has significant currency in liberal democratic societies. Yet contemporary moral philosophical scholarship on conscience is surprisingly sparse. This paper seeks to offer a rigorous philosophical account of the role of conscience in moral life with a view to informing debates about the ethics of conscientious objection in medicine. I argue that conscience is concerned with a commitment to moral integrity and that restrictions on freedom of conscience prevent agents from living a moral life. In section one I argue that conscience is a principle of moral awareness in rational agents, and that it yields an awareness of the personal nature of moral obligation. Conscience also monitors the coherence between an agent’s identity-conferring beliefs and intentions and their practical actions. In section two I consider how human beings are harmed when they are forced to violate their conscience. Restrictions on the exercise of conscience prevent people from living in accord with their own considered understanding of the requirements of morality and undermine one’s capacity for moral agency. This article concludes with a consideration of how a robust theory of conscience can inform our understanding of conscientious objection in medicine. I argue that it is in the interest of individual practitioners and the medical profession generally to foster moral agency among doctors. This provides a prima facie justification for permitting at least some kinds of conscientious objection. |
Keywords | moral psychology; harm; ground projects; emotion; integrity; agency; professionalism |
Year | 2023 |
Journal | Res Publica |
Journal citation | 29 (1), pp. 1-21 |
Publisher | Springer |
ISSN | 1572-8692 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11158-022-09555-2 |
PubMed ID | 35789952 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85132817807 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC9244116 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Page range | 1-21 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 24 Jun 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 12 May 2022 |
Deposited | 21 Jul 2023 |
Place of publication | Netherlands |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8z5y2/why-conscience-matters-a-theory-of-conscience-and-its-relevance-to-conscientious-objection-in-medicine
Download files
Publisher's version
OA_Symons_2023_Why_conscience_matters_A_theory_of.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
77
total views33
total downloads0
views this month0
downloads this month