How does King justify civil disobedience?

Civil disobedience is justified if the laws enacted by the majority deny the liberty of others. He goes on to say that the purpose of civil disobedience is to bring about change in the laws of the government. Rawls also defines civil disobedience as a political act.

What inspired King about Thoreau’s civil disobedience?

When Mahatma Gandhi was working out his concept of non-violent resistance, he was impressed by Henry David Thoreau’s advice to resist things that were wrong. Thoreau suggested that individuals could resist immoral government action by simply refusing to cooperate.

What is civil disobedience theory?

Civil disobedience, also called passive resistance, the refusal to obey the demands or commands of a government or occupying power, without resorting to violence or active measures of opposition; its usual purpose is to force concessions from the government or occupying power.

Is civil disobedience good or bad?

Its primary finding may be summarized in this lesson: Civil disobedience is justifiable but dangerous. It is justifiable, where circumstances warrant, by the first principles of the American republic and of free, constitutional government, and it is dangerous in that it poses a threat to the rule of law.

Why was civil disobedience important to Martin Luther King?

Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Disobedience Essay Explained. Civil disobedience is an important tactic in political theory and practice which is used to influence government change by taking moral responsibility to disobey immoral and unjust laws.

What is the constitutional theory of civil disobedience?

A constitutional theory of civil disobedience has three parts. First, it defines this kind of dis�sent and separates it from other forms of opposi�tion to democratic authority. These range from legal demonstrations and infractions of law de�signed to raise test cases before the courts to mili�tant action and organized resistance.

Who was the leader of the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Civil disobedience research paper: what’s the kicker? Speaking of Martin Luther King Jr and civil disobedience, we must admit that Martin Luther King, the leader of the modern American Civil Rights Movement, is considered to be one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history.

What did Henry David Thoreau mean by civil disobedience?

1. Definitions. The term ‘civil disobedience’ was coined by Henry David Thoreau in his 1848 essay to describe his refusal to pay the state poll tax implemented by the American government to prosecute a war in Mexico and to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law.