ipl-logo

What Is Thoreau's Argument Against The Authority Of Government

440 Words2 Pages

Within Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, he greatly emphasizes the impact of a government that functions off the consent of the people, whilst in the process putting the people's power and authority above the government’s in an effort to create a truly free State, both of which are still seen within modern society where the government derives no power if it does not have the consent of those it governs, as well as granting its citizens the right to vote and partake in governmental decisions. When Thoreau speaks about how “the authority of government… must have the sanction and consent of the governed. It can have no pure right over my person and property but what I concede to it”, he shows that with the rights the people are given as american citizens, …show more content…

This is still seen within America today because through the Fifth and Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is declared that governments cannot deprive, or hold any power over any person’s right to “life, liberty, or property” without due process of law. Thoreau also argued against the functioning of state governments because they were putting their own power over that of the people’s, in which he stated that “there will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all power and authority is derived.” This shows that as long as the State disregards the people’s place in governmental decisions, there will always be restrictions on the abilities of the people. By removing the State from its pedestal, the people are given the right to decide how their government should be run, and with this right democracy will be born. Society today greatly functions off this principle because the people are given the ability to vote for those that run the state government, which removes the independent power the state potentially held, and transfers it to the people, making american life much more

Show More
Related

The Hunger Games Rhetorical Analysis Essay

653 Words | 3 Pages

Thoreau believes that government should be lenient with their people and work with them for their common good, Gale actions as an individual shows that he agrees. In “Civil Disobedience” Thoreau explains his belief that the government should be tolerant. He explains, “[He] heartily accepts the motto, ‘That government is best which governs least’

Read More

Transcendentalism In Into The Wild, By Jon Krakauer

1461 Words | 6 Pages

Another act where he went against the rules of government is when he refused to get a license in order to kayak down a river. The man in charge told him that he needed to receive a license before they would allow him on the water. McCandless, not having the necessary identifications he needed in order to get a license, rebelled and found a way onto the water anyway. These are the acts that Thoreau finds to be exhilarating. In the final paragraphs of “Civil Disobedience,” Thoreau begins to compare the government to a machine.

Read More

Compare And Contrast Thoreau And Steinbeck's Ideals For Government

943 Words | 4 Pages

Thoreau and Steinbeck’s Ideals for Government Since the beginning of early societies, people have evaluated the written rights in which the government provides its people, and the unwritten rules that keep many from living freely. Henry David Thoreau, in his essay, “Civil Disobedience”, discusses the importance of protecting one’s rights and using those rights to protest the government for its discrepancies. John Steinbeck, in his novel, Grapes of Wrath, presents a similar argument in Chapter 17, through the story of a community of families with a set system of governing.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience

897 Words | 4 Pages

Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience heavily criticizes the government for being too corrupt and also argues that the people have the right to refuse allegiance to the State. Because the government is unjust and corrupt, Thoreau calls for a change in how the government operates rather than abolishing the government entirely. Thoreau’s idea of a better government is a government that governs the least. This claim is elaborated as Thoreau states in his essay that the individuals with consciences should rule instead of the government officials that lack said consciences. For example, in part 1 paragraph 4, he mocks individuals such as soldiers and privates for showing respect to the government through marching admirably because they are going

Read More

Compare And Contrast Declaration Of Independence And Civil Disobedience

759 Words | 4 Pages

The essay “Civil Disobedience” is about the individuals facing the society they live in, as well as the fight against injustice. Thoreau says in his essay, “I think we should be men first, and subjects afterwards” (392). Thoreau says that they should act as citizens of a community before they act as subjects of the government as well as society. Thoreau also states that, “The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to so at any time what I think is right” (392). This means that at any point in time, as long as the individual does what he believes is right, society’s (as well as government, in this case) standards do not apply.

Read More

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience By Thoreau

422 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout history there have been many political changes that are either supported, or not, by citizens. In the given passage from, "Civil Disobedience," by Thoreau, a perspective of disagreeing with the government ways, is provided. Thoreau explains how a government should be in comparison to how it really is by utilizing his words to set the tone and mode, imagery to achieve his audience's understanding, and diction to make his writing scholarly. Although tone and mode are not directly stated, you can infer that Thoreau meant for his writing to be taken as serious and powerful. His implementation of words such as, "inexpedient," "execute," " integrity," and "command," makes one think about their lawful rights and reflect on what rights are supported or

Read More

Civil Disobedience Rhetorical Analysis

357 Words | 2 Pages

In the essay “Civil Disobedience,” written by Henry David Thoreau, he stated, “Government is at best an expedient, but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient.” This expresses his opinion about the government that controlled America during the mid 1800s. His essay expresses that the government only addresses how to deal with a majority of the population, instead of finding a way to serve individuals. Thoreau’s viewpoint on the government is why he feels the need for resistance. For Thoreau, resistance means doing what a person believes is morally right.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience

673 Words | 3 Pages

The key to deconstructing Thoreau's argument is to understand his hierarchy of government and the individual. Thoreau's ideal communion between the individual and the state is manifest by the individual as a "higher and independent power". This relationship is entertained in Civil Disobedience in the analysis of Thoreau's 1846 imprisonment, in which Thoreau demonstrated freedom as an internal and subjective

Read More

Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience

1371 Words | 6 Pages

A government’s improvement revolves solely around recognizing the rights of men: “There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly” (Thoreau, 1847/1998, p. 146). The people form the government. A

Read More

How Does Thoreau Support Civil Disobedience

598 Words | 3 Pages

The act of opposing a law one considers unjust and peacefully disobeying it while accepting the consequences is known as “Civil Disobedience”. Individuals practicing acts of civil disobedience retain a compelling impact on society; often determining the outcomes of large-scale issues. It is affirmed through the evaluation of both historical and current instances that defiance against unjust laws positively impacts free society through the protection of civil liberties. Through the teachings of Henry David Thoreau, it is understood that a person’s individuality, and nature to express themselves, is a crucial aspect of preserving civil liberties. Within his texts, Thoreau would commonly represent the mind as a beautiful and complicated object that has great potential when given proper foundation and support.

Read More

Thoreau Makes A Distasteful Aspects Of Government

137 Words | 1 Pages

Thoreau distinguishes that there will always be certain characteristics about a government that are distasteful to individuals within that government—Taxes placed on certain merchandises, for example. These little frustrations he terms the “friction” that always supplements a machine as large as a national government. But there is a key difference between a machine that produces a small amount of friction in its efforts to be productive and a machine that becomes passive to the friction it produces. When the negative and harmful aspects of a government become more predominant than the useful aspects of a government, Thoreau says, “It is a great evil to make a stir about it. But when the friction comes to have its machine, and oppression and

Read More

Henry David Thoreau On Government

200 Words | 1 Pages

Henry David Thoreau disputes that the government shouldn’t dictate how individuals live their lives. Resistance is the core value of patriotism because it demonstrates a desire not to subvert government but to build a better one. Thoreau’s tactic to resisting government was in a nonviolent way. Many motivational leaders such as Martin Luther King and Ghandi thought the alike, these men strongly believed in approaching situation in a nonviolent matter. Thoreau believes that a good government is the one that governs the least, and that people should have more power.

Read More

Similarities Between Emerson And Henry David Thoreau

687 Words | 3 Pages

In Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”, he believed that any and all forms of control are in fact a form of government. Thoreau believes that when relating to democracy, the “government is best which

Read More

Two Examples Of Transcendentalism

548 Words | 3 Pages

In the text civil Disobedience, the author tells the readers how the government need to focus on the goodness of people. Thoreau states “I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward” (1). The author thinks the government should focus more on the need for humans and the freedom of humans. The author also states that he is a non-conformist and he will only pay the taxes for thing he thinks are necessary to pay for. Thoreau says “I simply wish to refuse allegiance to the State, to withdraw and stand aloof from it effectively” (2).

Read More

Thoreau's Philosophy Of Civil Disobedience

579 Words | 3 Pages

Henry David Thoreau declares that “disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” This quote describes that people do not receive the opportunity to select options when one obeys another. Thoreau is a man who constructed the ideal philosophy of civil disobedience, which soon inspired others. Thoreau was shunned by society as a Harvard man since he forsaken society’s expectations.

Read More

More about What Is Thoreau's Argument Against The Authority Of Government

Related Topics

Open Document