Civil Disobedience: The Social Contract Theory

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The foundations of any structured civilization are the laws that ensure the wellbeing and order of society. Laws uphold a form of peacekeeping and formalized retributive punishment for those who commit crimes. The sole reason of society’s existence and continuation is the joint agreement between individuals and the state to maintain tranquility and lawfulness. This understanding is identified as ‘the social contract theory’. Its claim is that legitimate authority of a state stems from the consent of the governed, so without this relationship, people become much more inclined to resort to criminal activity and society spirals into disorder. Political authorities who hold a high position of power within a system of government have the executive …show more content…
Civil disobedience is “a public, non-violent and conscientious breach of law undertaken with the aim of bringing about a change in laws or government policies.” In all cases, those who participate in civil disobedience, are acutely aware of the prospect of legal punishment (i.e. being thrown into jail). One of the main purposes in partaking in civil disobedience is bringing the dissatisfaction of the public to the attention of the state in hopes to have the unjust law overturned. The systematic oppression of black Americans in the United States proves this to be true. The Civil Right Movement led by Martin Luther King, who was driven by the teachings of his religious convictions and his beliefs in the ideas of justice, democracy, and equality for all. Martin Luther King embarked on a great movement and a series of non-violent protests that included the Montgomery bus boycott following Rosa Parks and marches similar to the one in Selma. Also, there were numerous instances where Martin Luther King and many others who supported the cause of equal rights for black American were thrown in jail cells because of their clear breaching of the law. Another great example of civil disobedience would be Antigone. It is repeatedly thought that Antigone is a go-to model …show more content…
Antigone values honor her and honoring the gods. She disobeys Kreon’s rulings in order to do what she perceived to be as “right”. Civil disobedience is not meant to be a secretive act. Those who willingly involve themselves in it are publicly acknowledging their breach of the law. Antigone shows this trait when she is confronted by Kreon and blatantly states what she has done without
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