The civil disobedience

The civil disobedience Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was a philosopher and writer best known for his attacks on American social institution and his respect for nature and simple living. He was so much influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He was opposed to the practice of slavery in some of the territories involved. It is said that ” a night in the jail is what prompted Thoreau to write the civil disobedience. In this essay he shows his complete refusal for the slavery life after the war. The theme : The right of resistance Thoreau affirms the absolute right of individuals to withdraw their support from a government whose policies are immoral or unjust. He takes issue with the brand of moral philosophy that weighs the possible consequences of civil disobedience against the seriousness of the injustice. The methods of resistance Thoreau condones in his essay are pacifist and rely principally on economic pressure: for example, withholding taxes in-order to drain the state of its resources and hence its ability to continue its unjust policies. The ultimate goal of civil disobedience is not to undermine democracy but to reinforce its core values of liberty and respect for individual. The content of civil disobedience I heartily accept the motto, ” That government is best which governs least” and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe-that government is best which governs not at all, and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. In the beginning he says that the best government is the one that does not have over control upon the nation He never trusts the government because it does whatever it wants and it is full of corruption and the bad treatment for the nation. He mentions the Mexican war that brought slavery to USA by little people (elite) who controlled the country for their won good and against people in Ami. He says the government is allowing that corruption as it gives these few men the priority to rule the majority of people. Add to that, they exploit Ami economically He says that democracy is the only solution and as it has been stretched for the ideals in the past that was made by freedom ” The Right of resistance is a practical thing of understanding the correct meaning of human rights, this is what Thoreau says, and this is what makes the (civil…..)more understandable for the people there in Ami. Thoreau says that if s. people practice the civil…., then they will be even Jailed but the rest of people should continue the same thing. Actually Thoreau says that the main point of (civil….)is negotiation to be able to change the oppression of the country to fair systems. The mass of men serves the state not as men mainly, but as machines with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables etc. in most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense, but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones, and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs, yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizen. Others as most legislators, politicians, lawyers ministers and office holders, serve the state chiefly with their heads. And as they rarely make any moral distinctions, they are likely to serve the devil. Without intending it, as God. There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery esteeming themselves children of Washington and Franklin, sit-down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do and do nothing, who even postpone the question of freedom to the question of free trade, and quietly read the prices-current along with latest advices from México after dinner and it may be fall asleep over them both. What is the price-current of an honest man and patriot today? They hesitate, but they do nothing in earnest and with effect. They will wait well disposed, for others to remedy the evil, that they may no longer have it to regret. At most, they give only a cheap vote, and a feeble countenance and Godspeed. To the right, as it goes by them. There are nine hundred and ninety-nine patrons of virtue to one virtuous man, but it is easier to deal with the real possessor of a thing than with the temporary guardian of it. Then he says that because every man can’t do everything but something so he has to do that something correctly In the middle of the essay he says that he will never do as he is asked but he says that he will do what he thinks it is true. And also obey those who can prove that they are better than him and do something positive in the country otherwise he will never obey anyone in the government. From this point we understand that Thoreau is calling and showing the importance of individualism. Add to that, he says 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. In which he means that the government should treat the individual with respect as a neighbor.