Today in many places in the world, demonstrations and protests are considered very effective methods to communicate opposition to acts of the government that are believed to be violations of civil rights. However, in 399 BCE, Socrates argued that civil disobedience is never appropriate, and was so convinced that his philosophy, or social contract theory, was completely justified that he chose a to die rather than to live in order to become an example for others who would be faced with the same situation. While the relationship between "lawbreaking" and "civil disobedience" can be difficult to establish, there are several key characteristics of each concept that make it easier to do so. In exploring the causes and the objective of an act of protest or lawbreaking the distinction between the two becomes far more evident. .
While Socrates is imprisoned after being convicted of atheism and corruption of the young and sentenced to death by poison he is visited by Crito, his student and wealthy friend. Since Socrates' trial and sentencing his followers had unsuccessfully been trying to convince him to allow them to intervene on his behalf, and when Crito implores Socrates to escape from prison to avoid death Socrates refuses once again. Confused, Crito asks his teacher why he would prefer death to life. Socrates explains that in his eyes, the situation was not one of life and death, but rather justice and injustice. According to Socrates, although he did not agree with it, the judicial system of his city had tried and convicted him of a crime and he is obligated to accept their ruling. He believes that by living in a society and accepting its benefits (such as protection, schools, markets and roads), one must also accept the burdens, and by receiving services from the government, an individual owes service to the government in return. He believes that being wronged (suffering a miscarriage of justice) is always preferable to doing wrong in return.
Equally, Socrates makes clear why laws should be followed and why disobedience to the law is rarely justified. Finally, he makes clear his views regarding civil disobedience. ... Disobedience can be justified. ... In his dialogue with Euthyphro, we see that he thinks that disobedience can be justified. ... On Socrates" point of view either the disobedience to the law or to the civil disobedience can be justified. ...
Henry David Thoreau's thoughts towards the citizen's role in our country's government are poured into his 1849 work titled, "Civil Disobedience." ... However, Civil Disobedience had more staying power then Letter From Birmingham Jail. ... Meanwhile, MLK was also alluding to the Bible, and to Socrates too. ... Martin Luther King Jr. once stated that Civil Disobedience was an inspiration for him. ... Therefore, Civil Disobedience is more direct, and plays a stronger role in American literature surrounding justice in our daily lives. ...
The play opens after Oedipus' two sons Eteocles and Polyneices have killed each other in a civil war for the throne of Thebes. ... Creon believes that Polyneices' body shall be condemned to this because of his civil disobedience and treachery against the city. ... He believes that government and law is the supreme authority, and civil disobedience is worst form of sin. ... Socrates has been ordered to philosophize by Apollo, his superior in ethical matters. ... He believes that because he has been raised by the state, civil disobedience would impede his path to goodness, which is wha...
However, Socrates first introduced the idea in Plato's dialogue the Crito, sections 50a-54d. ... Crito gives many arguments to persuade Socrates, but each of Crito's arguments is met with counterarguments by Socrates to accept his fate. ... Socrates explains to Crito that laws have nurtured and protected him, thus Socrates owes a debt to the Laws as a person would owe their parents (Crito, 50d). Socrates also says that he must obey the laws because he has agreed to do so. ... The first criticism of Socrates argument is that Athens did not uphold its end of the agreement. ...
Socrates in his old age has been subjected to the Law of Athens. ... Their attitude toward civil disobedience is on a negative note. They would in the most righteous of fashions reject civil disobedience. ... Malcolm X, a man that fought against racism in America, did so by means of violence and civil disobedience. ... Therefore it is quite evident that the Socratic-Platonic view of law would not approve of this disobedience. ...
The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast Thoreau's Civil Disobedience to Plato's The Apology in order to show that it is not possible for justice to exist in the political world, due to the majoritarian rule of politics, and the types of individuals leading it. ... The key term that came up towards the end of Civil Disobedience is: individualism. ... Thoreau in his essay Civil Disobedience also accuses the government of being unjust. ... The major difference between Thoreau's arguments and Socrates" arguments is that Socrates persuades people by talking about his ...
One of the most influential people of the movement for black civil rights in the United States, Martin Luther King, Jr., was arrested during his visit to Birmingham, Alabama. ... King does so by quoting from historical figures such as Socrates, and Thomas Jefferson. King mentions, "Academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience" (161). King's letter implies that Socrates were killed because he practiced civil disobedience, but for him to disobey a rule is the reason for why we have the academic freedom today. ... King's Letter from Birming...
The act of civil disobedience immediately evoked a reaction from eight white clergymen, who, in a statement printed in the local newspaper, called King "an outsider" and deemed his actions in Birmingham "unwise and untimely." ... King says "Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal" to illustrate why he must expose this tension so that we will leave behind racism and prejudice, move toward understanding, and come together as sis...
