Even in the absence of conscription, of course, many individuals may choose to volunteer their service to the military defense of their country, particularly if their country is associated with high ideals that they regard as worth defending. They generally do not perceive their often heroic service as a sacrifice, but as a positive effort on behalf of their own values. Our present analysis, of course, does not apply to such voluntary efforts, and does not reflect in any way upon the value or moral significance of such action. Here we are concerned solely with service obtained through coercion rather than ethical persuasion, by individuals who are required to sacrifice themselves to a cause that is in conflict with their own perceived values. (Ironically, the cause of "freedom" may be invoked to justify denying them the fundamental right to make their own decisions.)

Many of our observations considering the institution of slavery also apply to conscripted labor. Conscription generates a basic conflict between the conscript's values and the orders of those in command. Because of the disutility of essentially uncompensated labor, conscripted workers naturally tend to shirk assigned tasks. Malingering can be punished somewhat more severely than in the instance of slavery, however, since the authorities do not usually retain permanent ownership of the conscript and therefore may not be so concerned about possible long-term physical or psychological damage.