Each of these concepts informs a distinct argument for civil disobedience the conviction argument shows that as a constrained communicative practice civil disobedience has a better claim than private objection does to the protections that liberal societies give to conscientious dissent. Conscience and conviction the case for civil disobedience oxford legal philosophy 1st edition by brownlee kimberley 2012 hardcover books amazonca. Conscience and conviction the case for civil disobedience oxford legal philosophy by kimberley brownlee 2012 12 14 books amazonca. Brownlees central argument for a general right of civil disobedience on the grounds of conscience is worthy she sets out constitutive conditions for sincere moral conviction that seem to be inspired by a worthy view of connecting with the way in which society should morally function the difficulty comes when theory meets practice. Oxford legal philosophy offers a new sustained account of the moral and legal merits of conscientious disobedience particularly civil disobedience details a thought provoking alternative to standard liberal positions on political participation and principled disobedience