Abstract This essay discusses how it is sometimes imperative to disobey the law. There are indeed many circumstances one can think of in which disobeying the law might be the ethically right thing to do. A general right of civil disobedience is defensible.
Abstract This paper examines how occasionally disobedience may be necessary to preserve one's moral integrity. For instance, if one is directed by law to kill a human being, or to commit some other sort of heinous crime it is up to the individual to decide whether obedience poses enough of a threat to his or her moral integrity that he or she cannot continue following the law or rule. It evaluates how in most cases, however, it is in the best interests of the individual to obey and to instead amend the system where necessary. It provides examples throughout history where disobeying laws had positive results such as leaders of nonviolent protest movement (e.g., Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr.) who broke laws in the strict sense. It also analyzes laws such as conscription laws which can cause a travesty of moral obligations.
From the Paper "Therefore, strictly speaking, it is extremely difficult to act against a law without violating some facet of the body of law in some way. Much of our conception of changing things by "working within the system" is based on Western governmental notions of democratic government. In many other political contexts, there may be no system to work with. For instance, in a totalitarian dictatorship, such as exists in North Korea, for instance, what room is there to change the system? The very act of attempting to change any element of the system might very well be regarded as illegal. It is arguable that this can be found in United States history as well, as with the Sedition Act mentioned above."
Abstract This paper explores the idea that Adam and Eve are actual children and God is an actual father to them. It attempts to understand why they disobeyed God's command in the Garden of Eden by considering their behavior to that of children who disobey their parents. It examines how all children disobey their parents at one time or another and how there are several causes, the main one being that children understandably lack the knowledge to know right from wrong. In Adam and Eve's case, they couldn"t know right because they couldn"t know wrong. It also uses the analogy of Adam and Eve to discuss the theories behind preventative measures against disobedience such as warnings and punishment.
From the Paper "In the beginning, Adam and Eve were content in their Paradise. They would never question God's word. Eve though they did not know the difference, they were happy. Early in life, for example, as babies we are unaware of much around us, but we know when we are happy. Unfortunately, as children begin to get older, they begin to wonder about absolutely everything. It's natural for children to be curious about things. It is especially natural for children to ask "why this" and "why that" when something is forbidden to them. If Adam and Eve are considered children, rather than adults, then maybe we can begin to understand why they disobeyed God's command."
Tags: disobedience, punishment, behavior, garden, eden
Abstract In this analysis of John Neville Figgis' "The Divine Right of Kings", the writer of the paper shows how Figgs argues that a King's right to rule over others comes directly from God and that disobeying a king means disobeying God himself.
From the Paper "In conclusion, this was a very interesting book. John Neville Figgis made me think about why kings and queens claim to have the right to rule. He argues that monarchs get their right to rule from God. It does not matter if kings or queens are good rulers or not, because the will of the people they rule is not important. Disobeying the king or queen was thought to be a sin against the will of God, and would result in eternal damnation. The king or queen is responsible only to God, and not to the common people."
Abstract This paper examines the conflicts between the dialogues of "Allegory of the Cave" and "Divided Line" from Socrates' works "Apology" and "Crito". It looks at how in "Apology", Socrates stipulates that if the court would discharge him on the condition that he no longer practice philosophy, he would not obey the law and how in the "Crito" he argues that the laws must be obeyed, firstly because if they are not then a city cannot function and secondly because escaping would constitute and unjust act. It analyses whether it is possible for Socrates to disobey the court's ruling in the "Apology" and argue that one must never disobey a law in the "Crito" .
From the Paper "Socrates also likens the relationship between citizen and state to that of child and parent (Crito, 50d). To avoid punishment would be akin to that of not abiding by the decision one's parents made, effectively claiming that the state had no right to judge one in the first place. Socrates points out that if one thought this then one is free to leave the state, but by remaining there they effectively sign a contract to abide by the state's rulings (Crito, 52e). Socrates points out that he is not an equal to the state's laws, but an inferior and must abide by their decisions."
This paper discusses civil disobedience, the active refusal to follow or obey certain laws or demands of a government or ruling power without using physical force or violence.
Abstract This paper explains that, although civil disobedience is ancient, as old as the Hebrew midwives' defiance of Pharaoh, most of its moral and legal theory and form were shaped by Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.. The author points out that some historians are skeptical about civil disobedience and doubt its effectiveness or reasonableness, but others see it as a highly effective strategy in educating individuals and in bringing about a particular and desired change. The paper concludes that, while Thoreau and others argue that individuals are morally justified in disobeying certain laws, the observation is that few people will actually disobey; these leaders view this docility in the majority as the greater threat to democracy than anarchy.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Examples of Civil Disobedience
An Analysis of Civil Disobedience
Conclusion
From the Paper "Taking after the original example of Henry David Thoreau in secluding himself from the cloak of the law and into the woods in Walden Pond, protesters expressed the same outcry all over the world and in different times. Civil disobedience was used widely in India's nonviolent resistance movements against British colonialism, in South Africa in its fight against apartheid, in civil rights movements in the USA and in Europe and in the resistance movement in Scandinavia against the Nazi occupation. It was also a major strategy adopted by national movements in the former colonies in Africa and Asia before they obtained independence."
Abstract An analysis of the use of mythology by Sophocles. The author discusses the use of myths in Ancient Greece to define gods and their laws, showing the terrible consequences of disobeying them and forming the structure of society and politics. The author discusses Sophocles, a Greek dramatist and his use of myths and religious rituals. Included is an analysis of Sophocles' play "Antigone".
From the Paper "Unlike his contemporaries, Sophocles based his tragedies on human actions and reactions, rather than on divine influence. He does not, however, ignore the gods or say they do not play a role. He uses them to show the human limits and possibilities. The Sophoclean gods thus are placed in the background of the plot, influencing it but not interfering in the course of action Greek dramatists often based their plots on myths, which are believed to reflect the national identity and various historic periods. Besides serving as lyric entertainment stories, myths were used to persuade and enlighten citizens in matters of politics, religion, and customary rituals (Bremmer, 58)."
Tags: myths, religion, gods, tradition, punishment, tales, citizen, society
Abstract This paper examines leaders such as Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and Henry David Thoreau who have questioned and even disobeyed certain laws for the good of a greater cause and who recognized the value of peaceful protest. It analyzes different types of protests and evaluates whether they are justified.
Outline
Introduction: Theories on the Origins and Nature of Protest
Violent Political Protest
Urban Riots
Assassinations
Revolutions
Terrorism
Peaceful Political Protest
Picketing
Sit-ins
Boycotts
History of Protest
Laws Against Protest
Peaceful Leaders
Martin Luther King
"I Have Been To The Mountaintop"
"Montgomery Bus Boycott" (Time Magazine)
"Civil Rights and Social Wrongs?? (AA Review)
Mahatma Gandhi
"The Story of My Experiments with Truth: An Autobiography?
"Community, Violence, and Peace"
Henry David Thoreau
Civil Disobedience
Definition
Applicability to Modern Society
Just Cause, Civil Protest and the Law
Theories on and Approaches to Conflict and its Resolution or Management
Evolution of the Concept of 'Just Cause'
Alternative Means for Achieving Social-Political Change
Non-violence
Is it Effective?
How has it evolved?
Civil disobedience
Legal/Constitutional Restrictions on Breaking the Law for "Just Cause"
Conclusion
From the Paper "While there is certainly no legal or moral justification for violent acts for the sake of change, there are legal and peaceful alternatives to questioning authority available, such as picketing, sit-ins and boycotts. One of the most famous boycotts in protest history was the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which constituted the official beginning of the Civil Rights movement. The protest occurred when the black community of Montgomery, Alabama decided that they would boycott the city buses until they were no longer required to give up their seats for whites."
Abstract Compares Thoreau's notion of civil disobedience with the civil rights movement of the 1960s to gain equal rights for African Americans. Leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his thinking. Moral reasons for disobeying unjust laws. Peaceful demonstrations and those of activists. Bus boycott & NAACP litigation approach. Sit-ins, Freedom Rides and voter registration efforts of SNCC.
From the Paper "In his original formulation of the idea of civil disobedience Henry David Thoreau argued that when "gross inconsistency is tolerated" by the citizens of a democracy then "under the name of order and civil government, we are all made at last to pay homage to and support our own meanness" (Thoreau). In Thoreau's case he refused to pay taxes on the grounds that the government supported both an imperialist war against Mexico and the ownership of slaves. He held that a taxpayer in a democracy that engages in imperialist aggression and the expansion of slavery becomes, by way of his participation, an imperialist and a slave owner himself--no matter what private opinions he holds and no matter how he voted. To accept the order that allows these things was, in effect, not merely to accede to their existence but to become one with those who behaved in this..."
Abstract This paper examines how both the characters of Portia and Katherine in William Shakespeare's plays, "The Merchant of Venice" and ?The Taming the Shrew" are intelligent women who each goes through a character metamorphosis. It looks at how just as Portia transformed from submissiveness to a role of command, Katherine's transformation took the opposite turn. She submitted her independence and thus found her true self. It shows how both women were miserable in the beginning of the plays, Portia from obeying and Katherine from disobeying and how by swinging the pendulum, each woman found a balance and triumphed in their feminine roles.
From the Paper "Katherine in "Taming of the Shrew" is perhaps Shakespeare most famous female character. She and Portia are opposite in initial character. Katherine is ill-tempered and scoffs at obedience. She is prone to tantrums and physical attacks on the victims of her rage. Just as Portia is miserable from obedience despite her charm, Katherine too is unhappy, despite her foul disposition. Katherine's unpleasant nature may stem from fear of her own feminine desires and feelings of inadequacy. She may also be anxious that she will never marry, thus sealing her fate and her role in society as the maiden daughter. Katherine is intelligent and her spirit surely recoils at the thought of such a fate. In fact Katherine's spirit seems out of place amid an era when women were considered nothing more than property."
Abstract This paper looks at how Sophocles depicts the sharply contrasting female characters in his story, "Antigone", by creating a situation where both the characters have identical interests and must deal with the same life challenges. The paper analyzes and compares the responses of each sister to the difficult life situation imposed upon her and describes their characters based upon this analysis.
From the Paper "Sophocles? Antigone is a story that has several strong characters, each set up cleverly in order to demonstrate the role that personality traits and the strength of conviction in ideals plays in determining individual decisions. Thus, if Creon's son Haemon serves as a contrast of wisdom to his own display of pride and arrogance, Antigone's sister Ismene acts as a foil in defining Antigone's character and strength of conviction in her ideals."
A look at the reconciliation of the indignant words of Socrates to the jurors of the city's court at his trial and his loyal obedience to the laws of Athens in Plato's "Crito".
Abstract This paper explains that the apparent inconsistencies in the willingness of Socrates to disobey the government of Athens and its laws are merely the result of his love for Athens and distrust of the common people (hoi polloi) as rulers of the city. It shows that, to Socrates, the people of Athens collectively formed a force destructive to the ethical and philosophical ideals to which he adhered. These adherents to the tradition of concessive belief, according to Socrates, were of no use to themselves or to the city because they failed to make any significant contributions and merely provided one additional voice in the chorus that was Athenian democracy.
From the Paper "Socrates maintains a consistent loyalty to Athens and its laws throughout his trial in the Apology and his discussion with a student in Crito. Both works portray Socrates as a patriotic individual who regarded his city and its population as separate entities and who intended wholeheartedly to improve the former while preventing ruin at the hands of the latter."
Abstract Plato's "Crito" is a dialogue between Socrates and his friend Crito occurring the day before Socrates is to be executed. In this dialogue, Crito approaches Socrates with an offer of a possible escape, but it is not immediately accepted. Socrates questions whether the motive behind or reasons for the escape are good, and this leads to a major concept surrounding the whole dialogue--the concept of the definition of 'good'. The paper shows that Socrates makes it clear that to be good is to be virtuous, honorable, fair, and just, while everything else is secondary. While keeping with his definition of good, Socrates also believes that the law of the state is good, as he himself states that he would not have resided in the city were it not so. This premise is the key to Socrates? argument that because the law is good, to break or disobey the law is bad or evil, and thus every citizen who chooses to live under the law should strive to be good ? thus leading a good life. It is this that obliges Socrates to stay in jail and suffer his punishment, as it is people who have wronged him and not the law. Thus, in his afterlife, this will be well looked-upon. This essay disagrees with some parts of this argument and sets out to show that Socrates is not completely correct in his opinions.
From the Paper "In a sense the contract that Socrates describes does exist, and citizens of a country or state are obliged to follow and respect the laws for that state. But if the laws are unfair or unjust, every citizen should have a right to act on that, in the form of appeals to politicians, or at an extreme, rebellion or revolts against the state. It should not be wrong to stand up against a state that is treating people unfairly or unjustly. With respect to Socrates specifically, he has been wronged by the justice system, and when he asks Crito "ought a man to do what he admits to be right, or ought he betray the right"? that man should do definitely do what he thinks is right."
Abstract The paper argues that, while the individual must respect the laws of the state in which he lives and must obey them, he is obliged to differentiate between just laws and unjust laws and disobey the unjust and immoral ones that, if obeyed, harm a society or members of it.
From the Paper "The heroes of the twentieth century, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi, agreed with Thoreau, and the fact that they changed the world for the better supports the argument that Thoreau's insistence that the individual has a duty to oppose unjust laws, just as he has a duty to obey just laws, is correct. Gandhi, who lived during the British occupation of India, fought through the peaceful method of civil disobedience, both the unjust laws that the British passed over Indians and the British occupation of his country. Among those laws were ones that prevented Indians from making their own salt or clothes. The purpose of these laws was to benefit the English economy by forcing Indians, by law, to buy British textiles and salt ("Gandhi's Protests and Causes")."
Abstract This paper explains that, in "Paradise Lost", "the fall" is synonymous with the act of disobeying God, but there is a paradoxical duality to the act of falling: The "fall" is a physical force and a psychic humiliation and prostration, which God enacts on those who refuse to prostrate willingly themselves in worship to him. The author points out that, in the passage where the Angel Raphael tells Adam that "what surmounts the reach / Of human sense, I shall delineate...", he simultaneously reveals the limits and necessity of verbal communication, revealing that when language fails to encompass truth, the physical may yet embody it in reflection, a justification for the entire genre of allegory. This paper concludes that language, though incomplete, is absolutely vital to the creation of reality; it is the medium through which Milton may "create" the characters and the characters "create" reality.
From the Paper "The sin, which leads to the physical fall, is the sin of insubordination of refusing to accept the hierarchy of the universe; God cannot allow anyone to step out from under authority, and responds by forcibly showing his dominance. This show of force is the "fall" into a place where God's overwhelming power cannot be doubted. It is not so much pride that Lucifer teaches, but rebellion against the hierarchy, as seen in the speech he gives to the angels, where he asks who can "assume Monarchie over such as live by right His equals, if in power and splendor less, In freedome equal...Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve." (Book 5)"
