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Thoreau's Arguments Against Civil Disobedience

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Peaceful resistance is a necessity and an integral part of a society because without the ability to peacefully resist the society is not truly free. The use of peaceful resistance has been a common way of expressing a person or group of peoples ideals since Henry David Thoreau wrote his essay called Civil Disobedience in 1849. Thoreau was a famous American writer and philosopher, and the essay talks of how he believes people need to put one’s morals and ideas over laws they may find unjust (Saxby). This is the basis and definition of what peaceful resistance is. The United States Constitution puts emphasis on the individual and if an individual believes in an ideal that goes against a law, they should be able to peacefully resist, especially …show more content…

An article written on fee.org argues that ¨No society whether free or tyrannical can give its citizens the “right” to break the law. There can be no law to which obedience is optional, no command to which the state attaches an “if you please.”” (Leibman). The article continues on about respectful citizenship and how civil disobedience can be dangerous and destructive and will lead to disrespect. However, the definition of civil disobedience states that it is done peacefully and not destructively, and that they will accept the punishment. King once said in a speech about civil disobedience and unjust laws that people have moral obligations to disobey unjust laws but that they must do it civilly and be willing to accept the punishment (King). If disobedience is done differently, such as dangerously and destructively, then the disobedience is no longer civil. But if disobedience is done peacefully and civilly, and can still get the job done and not be destructive to society. Also, if people are peacefully resisting, they are surely aware they do not have the “right” to break the law, but do just morally believe that breaking the law should be done for the better of the society they live in and for the people around them, no matter the punishment. No matter how you put it, if believe in and crave a free society where every individual is important, you can not have that kind of society without civil

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