Download What is Freedom? Thoreau`s Civil Disobedience

What is Freedom? Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience
Housekeeping: Study Guide / Reminder of Debate – Exam Next Week
Very Brief Introductory Comments on “Civil Disobedience”
SGD of DQs
Active Learning Exercise – Thoreau vs. Lincoln
Large Group Discussion of Thoreau’s Arguments in Civil Disobedience
His Mottos about Government
Standing Government – Standing Army / Government as Weapon
Why / How Does Government Come to Occupy This Staus?
Psychological Need
Overly to the Will of the Majority
Overly Deferential to/ Reverential of “the Law”
Government dehumanizes us
HDT’s Big Question: How does it become a man to behave toward this American government?
Thoreau’s Response in Theory / Philosophical Response
Thoreau’s Response in Practice – What is our duty?
Thoreau’s Critique of other Responses
Counter-Arguments to T’s Responses & His Rejoinders
What is the “positive” / “constructive” side of T’s political philosophy
Active Learning Exercise: Thoreau vs. Lincoln
Ultimate Question: what general attitude should a “free person” have toward “the Law”?
Instructions: please consider two classic responses to this question.
Abraham Lincoln: The question recurs, "how shall we fortify against [threats to our political
institutions]?" The answer is simple. Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his
posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the
country; and never to tolerate their violation by others. As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support
of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American
pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor;--let every man remember that to violate the law, is to
trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of his own, and his children's liberty. Let
reverence for the laws, be breathed by every American mother, to the lisping babe, that prattles on her
lap--let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in Primers, spelling books,
and in Almanacs;--let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in
courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation; and let the old and the
young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of all sexes and tongues, and colors and conditions,
sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars.While ever a state of feeling, such as this, shall universally, or even,
very generally prevail throughout the nation, vain will be every effort, and fruitless every attempt, to
subvert our national freedom. (Lyceum Address, 1838)
Henry David Thoreau: “I think that we should be men, first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable
to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to
assume is to do at any time what I think right.” 669 “Law never made men a whit more just; and, by
means of their respect for it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice.” 669
Further Instructions: please break into groups of 3 or 4. In your groups, please come up with the best two
arguments you can in defense of the “Lincolnian” position and please come up with the best two arguments you
can in defense of the “Thoreauvian” position.
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