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Compare And Contrast Henry Thoreau And Civil Disobedience

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Throughout history, occasions arise in which a subjugated people disobey the authority of their government. Many of the individuals participating in these acts of disobedience cite a contradiction of beliefs as their primary motive for rebelling. In the article, “Politics drawn from the very words of scripture”, by Jacques-Benigne Bossuet and the article, “Civil Disobedience”, by Henry Thoreau, the authors both provide varying opinions on rebelling against authoritative figures. Bossuet argued that monarchs received their authority directly from God. This view required all subjugated people to obey their king without argument. Thoreau, however, contended that one should follow only the laws that one’s conscience believed correct. In the “Declaration of Independence”, written by Thomas Jefferson, Jefferson disregarded the ideas of Bossuet and eloquently lists the reason for the colonies separates from their king and country. The tension between submitting …show more content…

Unjust and just disobedience requires a balanced outlook. An ideal relationship between the two variations of disobedience in American society necessitates a combination of civil disobedience and obedience to authority. This balance requires careful consideration of both arguments and an ultimate culmination of the two. In the essay “Politics drawn from the very words of scripture”, by Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet, Bossuet proposed, “The person of kings is sacred” (Bossuet, 2014, p. 392). Bossuet’s argument enables one to observe the importance of governmental and authoritative figures. While most individuals reject the idea that a king’s authority reigns supreme, many individuals agree that authoritative figures do indeed hold a scared position, a position which requires respect and honor. The balance between the two lies in maintaining that the law, disregarding all the unjust aspects, necessitates obedience, and maintaining that the law only necessitates obedience when it does not go against one’s

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