Consider the principles and positions advocated by thoreau in on the duty of civil Disovedence - Essay Example

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It is employed as a communication tool to address varied civil problems. Henry Thoreau wrote the essay on ‘civil disobedience’ in 1849. The essay presents his life experiences and wishes related…

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Consider the principles and positions advocated by thoreau in on the duty of civil Disovedence

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Subject: Literature
Type: Essay
Level: Undergraduate
Pages: 1 (250 words)
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Author: lacy74

Extract of sample "Consider the principles and positions advocated by thoreau in on the duty of civil Disovedence"

Task: Consider the principles and positions advocated by Thoreau in "on the duty of civil Disobedience" Civil disobedience isa peaceful means to address the government and its laws. It is employed as a communication tool to address varied civil problems. Henry Thoreau wrote the essay on ‘civil disobedience’ in 1849. The essay presents his life experiences and wishes related to governance. His main themes were to address the perceived political injustices emanating from taxation, corruption, slavery and the application of the law.

Throughout history, he has inspired many transformational leaders including Martin Luther King Jr.King based his life on wisdom, truth and justice. He intended to arouse a desire to work towards reasonable treatment for all despite their race, political or economic dispensation as advocated by Thoreau. In his essay, Thoreau states that, “I cannot recognize as government that which embodies slavery (Thoreau 15). Consequently, in 1846, Thoreau was arrested for refusal to pay taxes. He was protesting against slavery and the Mexican-American warfare.

He believed in the human worthiness of all individuals and its surpassing of servitude. Thus, he questioned the application of law and its disregard on human consciousness, a process that was adopted by King. According to him, the best government is the one that governs the least (Thoreau 21). King longed to attain a state of spiritual actualization that would determine his thoughts and actions. Therefore, he believed that it is not right to nurture respect for law at the expense of respect for doing right.

This in his thinking would motivate good deeds among the public. Martin Luther, Jr has quoted Thoreau’s remarks in different platforms to parade the value of inculcating fairness, equality and justice. Contemporary Revolutionary leaders such as King have aped his approach echoing some of his famous words such as“let each man proclaim the government that will win his respect” and "Not late for honest men to revolutionize" to promote democracy (Thoreau 21). Works CitedThoreau, Henry D. On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.

Charleston, S.C.: Forgotten Books, 2008. Print.

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