Government's Curtailment of the Liberal, Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 566 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 0

Page 1 of 2

He centers on people's inability to act according to the dictates of their conscience, for the existence of laws and policies rendered society paralyzed and unable to think conscientiously about their actions -- that is, whether the actions they committed were conscientiously right or wrong. Asserting this point, he stated, "Can there not be a government in which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?... Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience, then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward." From this passage, Thoreau stressed the importance of civil society as the primary holder of power and control in the sovereign rather than the individuals who were supposedly given the function to represent civil society (i.e., political leaders and officials).

Stuck Writing Your "Government's Curtailment of the Liberal," Term Paper?

View All Our Example Government's Curtailment of the Liberal, Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written



In "On the duty of civil disobedience," readers were able to reflect the truth behind Thoreau's characterization in the present state of America's political system. Although the essay was created and written in the context of 19th century society, Thoreau's descriptions directly reflected how civil society had been denied their basic right to function rightly as citizens, people who are able commit the right actions and think the right thoughts based primarily on each individual's conscience. This essay had contributed significantly to American intellectual history, specifically its political history, by way of introducing a radical political thought wherein government was openly criticized and civil society was made to realize about the basic rights and freedom they had gradually lost as government became more tyrannical rather than democratic......

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Government's Curtailment Of The Liberal " (2005, May 26) Retrieved June 27, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/government-curtailment-liberal-66432

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Government's Curtailment Of The Liberal " 26 May 2005. Web.27 June. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/government-curtailment-liberal-66432>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Government's Curtailment Of The Liberal ", 26 May 2005, Accessed.27 June. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/government-curtailment-liberal-66432
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example