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Analysis Of Thoreau's Resistance To Civil Government

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Analysis Of Thoreau's Resistance To Civil Government
In “Resistance to Civil Government” Thoreau embodies the idea individual responsibility by refusing to pay taxes. Therefore, he is breaking the law but, he took this course of action due to the law violating his personal beliefs. This sets up the basis for his piece: people are morally obligated to break laws that violate their personal beliefs. He believes individuals should always rely on their own reasoning, due to the lack of morality in the highly corrupt government. The government is bound to make unjust laws because it is ruled by majority vote, not by reasoned or moral decisions. Thoreau's hope is that free-thinking individuals will take responsibility and defy government when it is making incorrect legislation. This idea is
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