Civil Disobedience Essay
The central question raised by the philosophical concept of civil disobedience—the duty each citizen has to uphold the laws of the state—has been debated throughout history. In his essay On Civil Disobedience, Thoreau argued that people have a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws, posing the question of which to follow. This essay can be seen as a refutation of Socrates' claims in the Crito regarding our duty to uphold the laws of the land. The famous quote from Thoreau that emphasizes his belief that government should not meddle in people's lives more than is necessary is, "'Government is best which governs least.'" Henry David Thoreau thought that the American government was becoming corrupt and that every citizen should express their …show more content…
Marx believed that for there to be a just and equal society, there had to be collective action and solidarity among the oppressed. From the civil rights movement to the Haitian slave revolution, Marx's theories have influenced social movements throughout history, proving the value of using civil disobedience to bring about social change. Marx would contend that citizens must oppose unjust laws and systems that uphold inequality and exploitation in place of the individual citizen's obligations to abide by the laws of the state. Marx emphasizes that the state should serve the interests of the people rather than the interests of the ruling elite, even though he acknowledges the value of law and order. People, therefore, have a moral duty to break any laws that support oppression and exploitation. In conclusion, a citizen's duty to uphold the laws of the state is not absolute; rather, it depends on whether the laws are fair and serves the needs of the populace. The oppressed can use civil disobedience as a potent tool to confront unfair laws and systems and build a more equitable and just society. We must snuff out capitalist dogma as it frequently serves to perpetuate inequality and exploitation. Although some people may be opposed to Marxist ideals, it is because of this dogma that we become complacent and simply become ivory tower theorists and not revolutionaries. Marx once said, "The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." To actively create a more just and equal society for all, we must actively work to challenge unjust laws and
Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience
1082 Words | 5 PagesHenry David Thoreau’s essay, Civil Disobedience, goes deeply into the presence of unjust laws, and what can be done to combat these in the growing and rising United States. In the section of the essay which begins with “Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them…”; David Thoreau has a valid point in the need to make changes through persuasion, if at all possible, and it not, by force. Some people may think of using force to change laws as rebellious and unpatriotic, but if the laws are unjust to begin with, may it be of the people’s interest to do something about it? Thoreau put emphasis on citizen participation in the government- without citizen participation, he paints a picture of tyranny and unguided power within the nation’s government.
The Influence Of Feed In Ender's Game
667 Words | 3 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. once said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” This powerful, inspirational, and strong leader had a vision. He wanted to see change in the world, so he took action and made it happen. All his actions were regarded as disobedient, but he knew that if one does not fight to make a change in this world, change will never be made. If we have learned anything from history, it should be that taking action against unjust affairs leads to breakthroughs in society.
Comparison Of Civil Disobedience And Letter From Birmingham Jail
699 Words | 3 PagesIn his essay “Civil Disobedience,” Henry David Thoreau asserts that the government is not needed and must be disobeyed for the sake of the people. Over a hundred years later after Thoreau published his essay, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” similarly shows the need for the disobeyment of the government. Thoreau asserts that governments are not necessary, and must be dissolved. While King follows a similar ideal, he believes that the government is inherently good, but that some of the laws passed by the government are cruel to people. While they are both appealing emotionally and ethically, King’s is more sound in argument and portrays a more practical way of civil disobedience.
Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience
757 Words | 4 PagesHenry David Thoreau: Urging the independent mind In “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, his goal is to urge people to resist (in a non-violent manner) governmental policies with which they disagree. His essay radiated throughout that time, influencing people to change the way that they had first perceived government laws and ideas. This dissertation helped people to change perspective and to challenge what the government was making them do. Today we can use this same logic to question government officials, to know for ourselves what is best.
Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience
897 Words | 4 PagesHenry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience heavily criticizes the government for being too corrupt and also argues that the people have the right to refuse allegiance to the State. Because the government is unjust and corrupt, Thoreau calls for a change in how the government operates rather than abolishing the government entirely. Thoreau’s idea of a better government is a government that governs the least. This claim is elaborated as Thoreau states in his essay that the individuals with consciences should rule instead of the government officials that lack said consciences. For example, in part 1 paragraph 4, he mocks individuals such as soldiers and privates for showing respect to the government through marching admirably because they are going
Civil Disobedience Rhetoric
526 Words | 3 PagesHistorian, Henry David Thoreau, in his essay, Civil Disobedience, exploits the influence that corrupt government has on Americans. Thoreau’s purpose is to point out the government’s flaws. He adopts a defiant tone in order to expose the wrongs of the government to the American people. Thoreau begins his essay by identifying statements he believes in such as, "That government is best which governs least,” and "That government is best which governs not at all.”
Civil Disobedience Dbq Essay
518 Words | 3 Pages"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so. "-Socrates. Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society because the society is not free unless it's able to check the government. As long as the protest of the law remains peaceful it is a good thing. It is the public telling the government that they will not let them gain to much power and crush their human rights.
Cliven Bundy's Civil Disobedience
751 Words | 4 PagesSome wonder what Civil Disobedience is and what it is all about. Civil Disobedience is an effective, selfacknowledged denial to obey certain laws, requirements and orders of the government or an occupying worldwide power. Around in 1846 a man named Henry David Thoreau wrote an essay over Civil Disobedience. He wrote this while he sent the night in jail because he had failed to pay 6 years worth of delinquent poll taxes(Resistance to Civil Government) . He would bicker with the people saying he couldn’t pay the funds that helped to assist the US government 's war with Mexico, nor could he pay a government that still allowed slavery in its Southern states.
Examples Of Transcendentalism In Civil Disobedience
1407 Words | 6 Pages“Civil Disobedience” champions individuality, emphasizing the significance of the person to the majority. For a “better government” to exist and perform justly and fairly, all men must “make known what kind of government would command his respect” (306). Men must reinforce their principals with action. Thoreau, ever the transcendentalist, goes on to describe his perfect government: based not on strength -for it does not help the minority- nor ruled by the majority –due to its likely corruption. Instead, the best guidance for the American people comes from their own, private “conscious” (306).
Essay On Civil Disobedience
632 Words | 3 Pages“That government is best which governs least”(Thoreu). Times of struggle, times of big government, and times of disagreement often lead to religious, political, and social revolutions. Thus, bringing debate, conflict, and ultimately resolutions. Civil Disobedience can often be portrayed as criminalistic or sometimes judgement falls upon those who participate. Henry Thoreau stated “I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.”
Discuss The Similarities Between Civil Disobedience And Martin Luther King
1010 Words | 5 Pages2. Thoreau refers to civil disobedience as not simply a right, but as a duty merely because individuals are responsible for the actions taken by the government. The government is only what the people let it be, and it can be corrupted and abused if men allow it be. He believes men have “the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable.” (942).
Compare And Contrast Declaration Of Independence And Civil Disobedience
759 Words | 4 PagesThe essay “Civil Disobedience” is about the individuals facing the society they live in, as well as the fight against injustice. Thoreau says in his essay, “I think we should be men first, and subjects afterwards” (392). Thoreau says that they should act as citizens of a community before they act as subjects of the government as well as society. Thoreau also states that, “The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to so at any time what I think is right” (392). This means that at any point in time, as long as the individual does what he believes is right, society’s (as well as government, in this case) standards do not apply.
Civil Disobedience Essay
2180 Words | 9 PagesLike King, I feel that citizens in a democracy have a duty to uphold the ideal of equality for all citizens, and one way to do that is to perform acts of civil disobedience. By performing such acts, citizens can sanction the government by delegitimizing government authority and therefore help shape a society that is more equal and in line with their wishes. While beyond the scope of this paper, there are also arguments to be made regarding how all of us should advocate for the rights of others as we all have a general duty to humanity, which can in part fulfill via acts of civil disobedience. However, in a society where civil disobedience is penalized, the barrier against performing such actions is so high that it may result in nothing happening at all. Take for example the laws being proposed in some states which say that teachers and other mandatory reporters would be required to report students’ transgender identity, even if the student wishes to stay closeted and/or there is reason to believe that the student will be harmed if news of their transgender identity were to be made public (Seldin).
Essay On Civil Disobedience
1360 Words | 6 Pages“You must be the change you wish to see in the world” These astonishing words that Mahatma Gandhi said made me suppose that Civil Disobedience is a Moral Responsibility of a citizen because when breaking certain laws, a citizen perhaps incorporate a good intention or a bad intention for breaking it. Citizens break the law occasionally to have their beliefs be heard so change can be assemble. Some ways that Civil Disobedience can be a Moral Responsibility would be breaking the law for the right intentions. An example of breaking the law for the right intentions could be The Salt March that Gandhi Created or, Rosa Parks standing up for her beliefs about her actions, MLK wanting equal rights with caucasian. Illegal Immigrants coming into the
Civil Disobedience Essay
968 Words | 4 PagesNo person who did exactly as they were told started a revolution. Nor did any perfectly trimmed hedge in someone’s front yard create a new species. We are born to disobey, and though the word carries a connotation of rebellion and unbalance, especially in professional environments, disobedience is a necessary precursor to progress in society, and the absence of it is harmful both to the independent nature of the individual and the forward-moving nature of the world. Social justice movements are a great example of where disobedience made progress in society and a positive change in the world. Women’s rights were not earned by society deciding one day that women were of value; they were earned by the millions of women across the world
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