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On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

Henry David Thoreau

Start Publishing LLC · Print & ebook · March 14, 2013

A Philosophy pick for readers exploring On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.

Political PhilosophyCivil RightsPolitical Writingcivil
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politicssocialphilosophy
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Who it’s for
Thoreau’s argument connects private conscience to the public costs of acquiescence.
Genres
Political Philosophy, Political Writing, Civil Rights
Published
Start Publishing LLC, March 14, 2013

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For younger readers: A Young People's History of the United States, Volume 2, Fault Lines in the Constitution, A Young People's History of the United States, Volume 1

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About this book

Civil Disobedience argues that citizens should not permit their governments to overrule their consciences, and that they have a duty to avoid allowing their acquiescence to enable the government to make them the agents of injustice. Thoreau was motivated in part by his disgust with slavery and the Mexican-American War, but the sentiments he expresses here are just as pertinent today as when they were first written. A true American classic.

Conscience and Citizenship

Thoreau’s argument connects private conscience to the public costs of acquiescence.

Come here for

  • A clear-eyed case for conscience over obedience
  • Political thought rooted in opposition to slavery and war

Expect

  • A compact encounter with a classic political argument
  • Questions about when citizenship becomes complicity

Where it sits

Political Philosophy38%
Civil Rights29%
Political Writing24%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Ethics
Authors
Henry David Thoreau
Publisher
Start Publishing LLC
Published
March 14, 2013
Format
Print & ebook
Reading lane
Ethics