Conscientious Objection: Does the Zero-Probability Argument Work? (Conscientious Objection and Emergency Contraception)

Greg Loeben, Michelle A Chui

The American Journal of Bioethics
The American Journal of Bioethics

Extract
It seems clear from these observations that Card (2007) uses the zero probability argument as a bit of a straw man. The conscientious objector does not rely on such a simplistic claim. In fact, conscientious objection can and should be evaluated in light of a variety of components, rather than the mere possibility that one’s actions will contribute to an unethical result. Specifically, conscientious objection appears to be made more plausible by a variety of factors, including the likelihood, intentionality, causal directness, degree of consensus, and not least, the severity of the unethical action.


Loeben G, Chui MA. Conscientious Objection: Does the Zero-Probability Argument Work? (Conscientious Objection and Emergency Contraception). Am J Bioeth. 2007 Jun;7(6):28-30.

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