Introduction
Henry David Thoreau was an American philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, author, and poet. He is famous for his book Walden, which is a reflection on simple living in the lap of nature, and his essay “Resistance to Civil Government”, also known as “Civil Disobedience”. First published in 1849, Resistance to Civil Government mostly covered the rights of an individual in relation to the government (Wendy 2006). Unlike the dictionary definition of ‘civil’, which means observing the accepted social forms, Henry Thoreau used the word ‘civil’ to mean interrelations between citizens, and citizens’ interrelation with the state. David Henry Thoreau wrote the essay on civil obedience, because while growing up in New England, he witnessed slavery as a huge problem in the society, and during his youth, he experienced the constant war between America and Mexico. He was opposed to slavery, and America’s war against Mexico, and it is believed that these two events gave him inspiration to pen the essay on civil disobedience. This essay will discuss and analyze the salient points Thoreau tried to put forward in his essay Civil Disobedience.
Background
During the 1840s and the 1850s, the motion against slavery was already gaining strength. However, the Fugitive Slave Law that required all the citizens to provide help by returning the absconding slaves to their owners. This law created a huge stir among the intellectuals of America, and Thoreau was one among them. Thoreau gave lectures at the Concord Lyceum on the rights and duties of a citizen in relation to the government. These lectures formed the basis of his essay that was later published in Aesthetic Papers in 1849 titled “Resistance to Civil Government”. Four years after Thoreau’s death, the essay was republished as “Civil Disobedience” (Wendy 2006).
Government and Individual
Thoreau in his essay pointed out that all the governments are more helpful than harmful. He stated that a democratically elected government also falls into this category. His argument was that if a political party gains the majority by vote and forms a government, then that majority, however, cannot ensure that the government will take wise and just decisions. In fact, he argued that the judgment of an individual is not necessarily inferior to a collective political body. Therefore, Thoreau said that it is not important for us to cultivate a respect for law in a democracy (Thoreau 1849). The duty of an individual does not stop after electing a government in a democratic process. In fact, the only obligation an individual should have is to do what he or she thinks is justified. In his essay, he gave an example to emphasize this point further, "I cannot for an instant recognize as my government [that] which is the slave's government also." (Thoreau 1849).
According to the essay “Civil Disobedience”, all types of governments are corrupt or unjust. Thoreau argued that the government in the course of doing their other duties becomes inefficient and often acts as an agent of corruption and injustice. It is, therefore, the duty of an honest citizen to revolutionize as and when he feels that what the government is doing is not right (Thoreau 1849). In fact, it is not a proper move for a citizen to wait for the next election to change the government in full cognizance of the fact that the government is corrupt. It is the duty of an individual to rebel as soon as he senses injustice.
However, if a society purely is run by the naturalist theory of Thoreau, then there will be rebel and revolution every other day. There is a huge cost and suffering for revolution against a governing body or an establishment. However, Thoreau specifically mentioned that it is not appropriate to do a cost benefit analysis in the case of an injustice as immorality and injustice cannot be justified by any cost or expense (Thoreau 1849). He gave the example of slavery. He said that people should rebel against slavery even if it costs their lives as it is an unjust action from the part of the government.
Slavery
When Thoreau wrote his essay on civil disobedience, the major evil in the American society was slavery. He was an abolitionist from the very beginning and had no qualms to be vocal about it. He said in his essay that the pro-slavery politicians of the south should not be the only ones to be blamed for slavery. The politicians of the north were equally responsible for this social evil as they were not taking any action to end the injustice, even after knowing that the system of slavery violated human rights (Thoreau 1849).
Tax
Paying tax is something that Thoreau discouraged in his essay. As all the governments are corrupt in nature, it is not wise to pay taxes for non-rightful actions taken by the government. If a person thinks that the government action of supporting slavery or war against Mexico was wrong, then he should stop paying taxes, because the taxes paid by him is used by the government to hire military forces and arms for using in the war against Mexico (Thoreau 1849). Even if the citizens get punished for not paying taxes, then also they should take such action if they feel that the government action is not right. Thoreau himself did not pay poll taxes to show his discontent against slavery and the war against Mexico in 1846, and was imprisoned for a day (Wendy 2006). He was fine with the idea of paying taxes for the government action that benefits the citizens as a whole, like when taxes are raised for constructing road infrastructure. However, taxes that were raised to support the government itself were vehemently opposed by Thoreau in his essay.
Power of Individual
Thoreau finally tried to discuss an ideal society in his essay. He stated that limited monarchy is better than absolute monarchy. Democracy is an improvement over limited monarchy. However, democracy as per him is not the final solution. He said that the ultimate government or state is that which recognizes individuals as higher and independent power than the state and derives its authority from them (Thoreau 1849).
Inspiration
Thoreau’s essay on civil obedience may not have huge applicability in the day to day governance process. In fact, civil obedience, if followed in full, may be disruptive for any country. However, as a theory, it ensures and upholds the importance of the individual over the state. Furthermore, the concept of justice and rightfulness is true, irrespective of any political structure. Thoreau’s ideas on civil obedience have inspired many people across the world. Mahatma Gandhi was inspired by Thoreau’s ideas that led him to start the “Satyagraha” movement. Writer Leo Tolstoy, Existentialist Martin Buber, the civil movement leader Martin Luther King Jr, and the US president John F Kennedy are some of the famous people who admitted how Thoreau’s civil obedience ideas had inspired them (Wendy 2006).
Conclusion
Henry David Thoreau, an American philosopher, was famous for his essay “Civil Disobedience” in which he has expressed his views on the government and individual, slavery, tax, and the power of individuals. He was a naturalist who encouraged citizens to revolt if they feel that a certain action of the government is not right or the government itself is corrupt. He was opposed to slavery and America's war against Mexico. He opined that citizens should stop paying taxes if they feel that their tax money is used for purchasing weapons and hiring military forces against Mexico. However, he believed that citizens should pay tax if the government action is beneficial. Though his opinion on civil disobedience may not be applicable for day to day government process, it has inspired a great many people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, John F Kennedy, and Martin Buber to carry out revolution against the thing they considered wrong.
Works Cited
Thoreau, H.D. Civil Disobedience. Virginia University. 1849. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/WALDEN/Essays/civil.html>
Mott, Wesley. About Thoreau: Civil Disobedience. Woods Project. Walden Library. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. <https://www.walden.org/Library/About_Thoreau's_Life_and_Writings:_The_Research_Collections/Civil_Disobedience>
Wendy, M. The Theory, Practice, and Influence of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. Freedom. 2006. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. <http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0503e.asp>
