Henry David Thoreau

12/07/09: Today we began to read Henry David Thoreau's essay "Resistance to Civil Government"
Homework assignment for today is to comment on this statement:
"The only thing I owe the government to do at any time is to do what I think is right."
In my opinion a single person, for example a king, can not make decisions on his own; there should be a majority of the same opinion. Advices might influence a certain opinion or decision and these should be taken into consideration. Therefore I agree with Thoreau that the government can not decide on his own but they can concentrate on conscience. The government should include the inhabitants' opinions and advices to think about right and wrong more thoughtful and to make a final decision easier. This is what he says: "(...) But government in which the majority rule in all cases can not be based on justice, even as far as men understand it. Can there not be a government in which the majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?—in which majorities decide only those questions to which the rule of expediency is applicable?"

12/08/09: The question is: What does Thoreau want the government to do and to improve and to change?
Especially in the last paragraph of his work he talks about human being and being an individual with rights and more power. The government should respect the people's opinions and advices and they could also learn from them. As I said, the government's majaority does not mean that they their opinion is right and that it is the right way and decision; it is just the statement of this group of people.This is what he says: "The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy, from a limited monarchy to a democracy, is a progress toward a true respect for the individual. (...) Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? (...) Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, (...)". With these statements he explains that he would like to have a free and enlightenment state and also to get more power for all humans.