Civil Disobedience Are We Morally Obliged to Obey Unjust...

Are we morally obliged to obey even unjust laws? This moral question addresses what we commonly know as civil disobedience. In order to properly discuss civil disobedience and whether or not it is moral to disobey laws, we must first characterize civil disobedience. In Peter Singers book, Practical Ethics he begins to characterize civil disobedience as arising from ethical disagreement and raising the question of whether to uphold the law, even if the law protects and sanctions things we hold utterly wrong? (Singer 292). Henry David Thoreau wrote an essay entitled Civil Disobedience that was published in 1854 in the collection of essays called Walden; or Life in the Woods. Thoreau first wrote of civil disobedience in opposition†¦show more content†¦Committing one violent act lessens the resistance to another violent act (Singer 310). There are other arguments for specific types of violence, but we are talking about civil disobedience, not violent disobedience. We must first discuss why we should obey laws to begin with. Singer gives two arguments in favor of obeying laws. He explains that first; people do not voluntarily refrain from hurting others so we need laws to deal with these matters. Secondly, we must have some kind of machinery to deal with the lawbreakers (Singer 296). Singer also reminds us that these two arguments for obeying law are neither universally applicable nor conclusive (Singer 297). Civil disobedience itself can be viewed the same way. It must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. There are rules as to what civil disobedience is, but there is no clear-cut universal answer in deciding to be civilly disobedient (Singer 297). Civil disobedience is about purposefully disobeying a law or rule to make a point, to try and change laws and rules in a specific situation, and is disobedience that is executed in a non-violent manner. Having characterized civil disobedience we can now discuss reasons for why people may act civilly disobedient. Singer explains that there are reasons to obey established laws, and the reason to obey is stronger when the law is established in a democratic manner and represents a majority view. However thereShow MoreRelated Civil Disobedience: Are We Morally Obliged to Obey Unjust Laws? 2003 Words   |  9 PagesAre we morally obliged to obey even unjust laws? This question raises the discussion of what we call civil disobedience. Elliot Zashin, author of Civil Disobedience and Democracy, defines civil disobedience as, â€Å"a knowing violation of public norm (considered binding by local authorities but which may ultimately be invalidated by the courts) as a form of protest: it is non-revolutionary, public, and nonviolent (i.e. there is no use of physical violence except self-defensively when participants areRead MoreUnjust Laws1747 Words   |  7 PagesAre we morally obliged to obey even unjust laws? Think about what this means. This means that laws, regardless of how unfair, unjust, or immoral they may be, must be followed with no better reason that they are the law. To the thesis that we are obliged to obey even unjust laws, I will argue that the standard objections to Civil Disobedience, given by Singer, are incorrect To begin, however, I believe it is necessary to define an unjust law. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, Any law that upliftsRead MoreBeing Morally Justified in Disobeying Laws We Consider to be Immoral644 Words   |  3 PagesBeing Morally Justified in Disobeying Laws We Consider to be Immoral The answer to this question depends very much on our understanding and opinion on the status of the law. On this issue it is likely that everyone falls into one of two broad categories. People falling into the first of these categories would be those who consider that through social contract we are obliged to obey the law, whatever the law states and regardless of our opinion on the moral status of that law and that we are morallyRead MoreEssay about A Free Society Must Expect Civil Disobedience1758 Words   |  8 PagesA Free Society Must Expect Civil Disobedience   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Are we morally obliged to obey even unjust laws? Think about what this means. This means that laws, regardless of how unfair, unjust, or immoral they may be, must be followed with no better reason that they are the law. To the thesis that we are obliged to obey even unjust laws, I will argue that the standard objections to Civil Disobedience, given by Singer, are incorrect      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To begin, however, I believe it is necessaryRead MoreParameters for Civil Disobedience Essays804 Words   |  4 Pagesthe majority of the laws that we live by today whether they agree with them or if they dont. Im not saying it wrong to agree with the laws that are set out for us by the majority of the population, but I also don’t disagree with disobeying the laws if they go against your moral standards. Every individual has a choice either agree with the laws that the majority of the population has established or think for yourself, will you be the minority and choose to disobey the unjust laws and do what you thinkRead MoreMoral Responsibility1256 Words   |  6 Pagesbe where it is without the laws that have been placed and the citizens who follow the laws. In order for this to happen the knowledge and acceptance of the laws are needed to establish order. African Americans had been secluded in the past through harsh laws of se gregation. Although many believe disobeying the law is morally wrong and if disobeyed a punishment should follow, Martin Luther King’s profound statement, â€Å"One has the moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws† (King 420) leads to greaterRead MoreThe Necessary Qualities Of A Good Democratic Citizen Essay2147 Words   |  9 Pages The necessary qualities of a good democratic citizen require an individual to recognize an injustice within the law, actively oppose that law, and to do so regardless if that unjust law affects the citizen personally. Rousseau, Emerson, and Douglass all agree that freedom and equality are natural rights endowed to all humans. However the three authors diverge in consensus when envisioning the necessary qualities of a good democratic citizen, such as the position from which each author is theorizingRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesWorksheet 661 APPENDIX I GLOSSARY 673 683 APPENDIX II REFERENCES NAME INDEX 705 709 713 SUBJECT INDEX COMBINED INDEX xvi CONTENTS P R E FA C E What’s New in This Edition? Based on suggestions from reviewers, instructors, and students we have made a number of changes in the eighth edition of Developing Management Skills. †¢ Added new skill assessments in Chapter 1 and a new case in Chapter 3. †¢ Revised parts of the book to reflect suggestions and feedback from instructors and students

The Civil War A Important Event - 843 Words

The Civil War was a very important event in United States history, and with its first major cause in 1820 many more events would lead up to the Civil War’s start in 1862. In 1820, Missouri wanted to enter the union as a slave state, but doing so would disrupt the ratio between slave states and free states. In order to allow Missouri to enter as a slave state, another state would have to join as a free state. A bill passed called the Missouri Compromise, handled the situation by having Maine enter as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. The compromise also prohibited slavery above of 36 °30’ latitude. Twenty-six years later in 1846, a bill known as the Wilmot Proviso was introduced that stated â€Å"neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in any part of [the] territory†. This would have prohibited slavery in any of the states, but it did not pass because the south had more power in the House of Representatives. After it was not passed it sho wed growing sectionalism between the north and the south. Later in 1850, California wanted to enter as a free state, but this would intervene with the 36 °30’ latitude rule of the Missouri Compromise. This was ignored and the Compromise of 1850 allowed California to enter as a free state and also, divided the remainder of the Mexican Cession into states that would decide on slavery through popular sovereignty and would pass a more effective fugitive slave law. Four years later in 1854, a man named Stephen Douglass wanted toShow MoreRelatedThe Civil War995 Words   |  4 PagesThere were many different events that contributed to the start of the Civil War. The Civil war was one based on people and slave rights. It was a compilation of confrontations regarding the institution of slavery. It was a long-standing war where many such as President Lincoln strongly intervened. There were three events, however, that I believe were the most important events leading to the Civil War. These events included The Missouri Compromise of 182 0, The Compromise of 1850, and Uncle Tom’sRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Crossroads Of Freedom By James M. Mcpherson1167 Words   |  5 Pagescause of the Civil War. While McPherson argued this he also argues that the Civil War had many other turning points and was not settled by just one battle. McPherson’s targeted audience would have to be those interested in the Civil War and the events that led to it. McPherson wrote this great book which came to be an important contribution to our collective historical knowledge and understanding because this book explains the important arguments that took place and made the Civil War happen and stopRead MoreKatherine Ramjit. Mr. Staccone. T2 History. April 28Th,1194 Words   |  5 PagesStaccone T2 History April 28th, 2017 Through What Events Was Slavery The Main Cause Of the American Civil War of 1861-1865 Some may argue that the main causes of the Civil War was The Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Compromise of 1850 and or much more. There is a multitude of reasons or causes that people can argue about what really started the War. One important factor to take in account is that most events leading up towards the Civil War really revolved to slavery. Slavery can be definedRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Vietnam War967 Words   |  4 Pagesviewed as being more important than 1968. While there were years in American history of great significance, 1968 has the distinction of being a year in which civil unrest, social progress, and the state of change were the norm, and featured events that affected not only America, but the world as a whole. With the condition of America at the time, society was going through changes that would go on to have massive impact on how the world would progress, with some of these events having effects yearsRead More1968 Was a Turning Point for the United States. Assess the Validity of This Statement652 Words   |  3 Pagesour nation was going through many important and crucial events. From the Vietnam War to national politics, and even civil rights, our country was changing a lot. In particular, the year 1968, was when our country went through a major turning point, especially when you take in consideration the major events that involved the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement such as the â€Å"Tet Offense†, violent protests, and the Civil Rights Act being passed. The Vietnam War is still a very controversial subjectRead MoreThe Effect of Amercan Wars on the Societal Views of Women965 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States, and the wars that followed, the female population finally gained the confidence to voice their thoughts of their roles in society. The impact of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the Progressive Era impacted the roles that women played in society in momentous ways because all three of these events were times of partial chaos with which came the more confident voices of women voicing their concerns about society’s views of them. The Revolutionary War was a time when thoughtsRead MoreFirst Essay965 Words   |  4 PagesHow important was Lenin in enabling the communist government to survive war and rebellion in the years 1918-1922. The communist government survived war and rebellion because of a variety of key figures including Lenin. However to say that Lenin was important is speculative, there were many events that occurred which Lenin didn’t contribute to which helped the communist government survive. It is possible to think that Lenin was not important in enabling the communist government to survive war andRead MoreEssay about The American Civil War: America’s Bloodiest War716 Words   |  3 PagesThe American Civil War, known as the War Between the States’ by some, was America’s bloodiest war. The Civil War consisted of over 10,000 battles between The Union Army of the North and the South’s Confederate Army, which lasted almost 4 years. The War was fought in 23 states and of the more than 10,000 battles only about 50 were major battles. (Weider, The Civil War, 1) In this paper the reader will learn about important dates of the war also about 4 of the bloodiest battles in the war; the BattleRead Morecivil war963 Words   |  4 Pages Prompt: There were numerous events and crises during the 1850’s that contributed to the advent of the civil war. Choose three and analyze the relative significance of each in contributing to the advent of the Civil War. During the time period of the mid 1800’s there was a great deal of growing tension between the northern and southern states. Many northerners were abolitionists and were anti slavery, the northerners didn’t want to outlaw slavery completely but wanted to put an end to slaveryRead MoreCause Of The Civil War On America1290 Words   |  6 Pages1301 Professor Harris December 3, 2015 Causes of the Civil War Lasting from 1861-1865 The Civil war: one of the most bloodiest and alienated wars in the American History has had a tremendous impact on our past society, and modern as well. In the early 1800’s the United States accomplished harmony, alliance, and unification, eventually causing sectionalism to flourish. This controversy led to the famous bloody war, known as the Civil war. While the south wanted to separate, and become one, the

Flawed free essay sample

Flawed To a certain extent we are all spectators in other people’s lives. We all pass judgments on the faults and admirable traits of others. It is not as easy to do this on yourself. Looking in the mirror of self reflection I can see my faults and strengths etched into my facial expressions, ironed onto my clothes and seeped into the pores of my skin. I believe it is your most intense qualities, whether positive or negative, that define who you are as a person. My most unfavorable quality has been prevalent since childhood. On the first day of Kindergarten as my mother was braiding my hair she turned to me and said â€Å"Do not care what others think of you, the only thing that matters is what you think about yourself.† Looking back on this piece of advice, I find it amazing that even at the tender of age five my mother knew me so well. We will write a custom essay sample on Flawed or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She had read the very strengths and weaknesses that I have only now, begun to accept. As a five year old, wearing my Pocahontas backpack, I pocketed this advice from my mother, and have been holding it in my hand ever since. My most unfavorable quality is self consciousness. I have always cared a lot about what other people think. I have always been scared of standing out in a crowd yet have never wanted to feel insignificant in the masses. I was never the girl who laughed the loudest, or the girl who could break free of her inhibitions completely. The words â€Å"I don’t care† rarely spewed from my mouth. Because I did care. I would think cautiously of the reactions and judgments that other people would have to my actions. When I looked in the mirror I would try to see myself not through my own eyes but the eyes of other people. I would place a lot of emphasis on what other people thought of me and at times it overshadowed what I thought about myself. This quality has at times caused me unnecessary stress and sometimes even sadness, yet I would not trade this trait in for anything in the world. For this quality has defined who I am as a person. It has inadvertently caused me to be observa nt, insightful and empathetic. Through years of studying other people’s reactions I’ve learned to read people very easily. I can see through the facade and the gilded expressions to what is really underneath. Perhaps it is because I have spent many years myself hiding behind my own self consciousness that I can see so easily through theirs. When someone falls I do not look at the crowd of laughing faces but immediately look at the person on the ground, I look at the expression in their eyes, because I know what they are feeling, I can recognize the vulnerability of being judged. The deep sense of awareness that I posses on what other people think of me has caused me to identify easily with other people. I can see myself in the nervous, new girl at school. I can recognize the essence of myself in the person who is getting made fun of. I know these people, because I was these people, because I am these people. If someone asked me today whether I am still like that five year old girl with the Pocahontas backpack I would smile and say yes and no. Throughout the years I have grown less concerned about what other people think. Now I am not afraid to speak out in a crowd or dress in a different way, I have gained a stronger voice through my writing and have grown pregnant with self confidence. Yet it would be a lie to say that I do not posses a great amount of self consciousness to date, because I do and perhaps I always will. But each day I fight to be the person my mother knew I could become, to be the person I know I can become. There are still sometimes I feel like that nervous, five year old girl because I always carry her around with me and I will always hold in my hand the advice she received on that memorable first day of school.