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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. Intro to John Brown – Video