Fondamenti etico-filosofici dell’obiezione di coscienza

The intention of the essay is to sketch out some aspects of the question of the ethical justification of conscientious objection. First, it focuses and criticizes the subjectivist claim of conscientious objection. Then he lingers on the notion of natural moral law, pointing out that some versions of this conception are inconsistent, so that it is necessary to deepen the sense of the ethical concept of “nature and natural”. At this point, he argues the foundation of the classical conception of conscientious objection that mere democratic procedures for the elaboration of just laws are insufficient. Then it criticizes paternalism and the notion of ethical neutrality of the State. At this point he reflects on the prophetic and testimonial value of conscientious objection, and the relationship the latter with human rights and human dignity. Finally, he emphasizes that in ethics we must proceed from goods to laws and that there is a primacy of positive.