Content for Mains Enrichment:
Source: IE
Context: Israeli youth 18-year-old Tal Mitnik have been imprisoned in Israel for conscientious objection to military service, particularly the assault on Gaza.
- Mitnik’s refusal is based on a commitment to working directly for a solution rather than participating in oppression and bloodshed.
What is conscience?
Conscience refers to an individual’s internal moral and ethical awareness, guiding their sense of right and wrong.
What is a conscientious objector?
It is an individual who refuses to perform military service based on their conscience, often for ideological or religious reasons.
The concept gained international recognition through declarations such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which emphasizes the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
Other examples of conscientious objection: Maximilianus in 295 CE, figures like Desmond Doss and Muhammad Ali
Usage: The example can be used in Essay/Ethics to show values of commitment to nonviolence, pacifism, and a strong moral or ethical stance against participation in armed conflicts.
