Does Disobedience Promote Social Progress

In 1891 the author Oscar Wilde claimed, disobedience is a valuable human trait and promotes social progress. 125 years later, and Wilde’s statement still holds true. Experts have defined social progress as, increasing the ability of a society to meet the basic human needs of its citizens. Looking to the past to different historical examples, the idea that disobedience promotes social progress becomes self-evident. It is shown that in most situations if someone wishes to change his/her current situation for the betterment of him/herself and or his/her community, disobedience in some way, shape, or form must be used.

During the 1940's in Vichy France and other Nazi-occupied territories, people disobeyed the Nazi government in various ways.