between a just law and an unjust law? To me the answer is evident‚ and I have a hard time believing that anyone couldn’t easily know the distinction or disagree with the distinction that Martin Luther King Jr. makes during his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” That “a just law is a man-made code that’s squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law” (533). At its very basic definition‚ just laws protect the people and unjust laws hurt the people
Premium Law Political philosophy Justice
Are we morally responsible for following unjust laws? Do we have to follow a law regarding how inequitable‚ unfair‚ or corrupt it may be? The main reason citizens follow these rules is because they are laws set in place by the government‚ and if broken could result in punishable actions.But what would you do if you were caught in a situation where the “unjust” law needs to be broken‚ would constructor a civil disobedience and take a stand for what you believe in. As Martin Luther King Jr.
Premium Law Political philosophy Religion
history‚ the acts brought on by disobedience have pioneered mankind into greatness. After all‚ it is through disobedience that one can hope to ever accomplish something truly extraordinary‚ for it is the act of defying authority that often brings about revolution against the unjust and an altered perspective of reality. Disobedience is an essential facet of society—needed to march progressively into a brighter future. Perhaps one of the most renowned examples of disobedience is that of defiance by American
Premium American Revolution United States Declaration of Independence United States
advocate for civil disobedience and those who support violent protests. The latter‚ is nothing more than a flawed contradiction.
Premium Political philosophy United States Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Thoreau wrote an essay called The Civil Disobedience that was based on his life experience‚ “he was jailed one night for his refusal to pay a poll tax to support the United States’ war on Mexico‚ an experience that led to the essay “Resistance to Civil Government” (1849) later titled “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” (Axelrod‚ Alan and Phillips 202). Thoreau supported the idea that an individual should protest the
Premium Henry David Thoreau Ralph Waldo Emerson Civil disobedience
Thoreau begins Civil Disobedience with the famous quote "That government is best which governs least‚" and he explains a government that does not get in people’s lives. Government is only a scheme. It exists because the people have chose to choose their will‚ but it is easy to take advantage of. The Mexican War is an example that thoreau used to explain the the government as their tool. Thoreau maintains that government as a foundation that prevents the accomplishment of the work it created. It’s
Premium Henry David Thoreau Political philosophy Civil disobedience
Thoreau’s primary argument in “Civil Disobedience” is that the government should be less involved in order to work at its best. He focuses on the idea that people shouldn’t be forced to fight for something they don’t believe in. For example‚ Thoreau talks about the armed forces and how soldiers are required to go to war‚ even if they don’t support the cause or think it’s right. Thoreau argues that people should have a say in what they want to support and have the ability to do what they think is
Premium Civil disobedience Law Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau‚ through his writings‚ influenced the Martin Luther King‚ Jr. in his quest for equal rights. Not only is this evidenced in King’s actions‚ but King partially attributes his methods to the inspiration of Thoreau. In “Civil Disobedience‚” Thoreau promotes resisting unjust government actions. Although not opposed to violent solutions‚ Thoreau encourages less aggressive measures. Specifically‚ Thoreau gave the example of refusing to pay certain taxes. Following this idea‚ King writes in detail
Premium United States Martin Luther King Civil disobedience
The famous civil rights activist‚ Martin Luther King‚ Jr.‚ once said‚ “true peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” Indeed‚ people have been fighting for justice for over centuries because they want peace. Citizens often question the government on why their opinions have not been accurately represented or why they have to act against their will‚ and there is only one answer to these questions‚ according to Henry David Thoreau‚ “people have chosen [the government]
Premium Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil disobedience Political philosophy
where she was not allowed to sit. The law was meant to treat people differently based upon the color of their skin. She felt that this was an unjust law and took a stand against it by breaking the law. Famous people like m.l.k‚ gandhi‚ and thoreau went against the law because they felt it was wrong and only way to fix that was to fix them self by breaking the law. Civil dis happens when people stand up for unjust laws without violent and demands better laws from the government as defined by thearu
Premium Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil disobedience Rosa Parks