How should a liberal democracy react to conscientious objection claims

Panel One: Concepts of Conscience
This opening panel will set the context for the following panel discussions with presentations and discussions centring on the philosophical framework within which we discuss conscientious objection. The speakers will consider the concept of conscience, the idea of freedom of conscience, and the concept of conscientious objection, compared, for example, to civil disobedience, and address the question of who can have a conscience – is it individuals only or also corporate bodies?
Chair: Professor Bert Gordijn, Dublin City University
Panellists:
Professor Kimberley Brownlee, The University of British Columbia
Dr Katherine Furman, University of Liverpool

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In a liberal democracy, conscientious objection must be allowed. If it is suppressed, this is dictatorial.