What does Henry David Thoreau mean when he calls government an “expedient” in “Civil Disobedience”?
Answers
Henry David Thoreau mean when he calls government an "expedient" in "Civil Disobedience" is that:
A. Government is a tool for the people to use when they need it.
Henry David Thoreau's argument in the “Civil Disobedience” was that the citizens of a nation need to disobey the laws implemented by the state if the laws are unjust. He speaks about his experience when he protested against slavery and the Mexican War by refusing to pay taxes. He adds that there are two types of laws, one is made by God and the other by the people. The laws made by God is about humanity and is higher than the laws made by men. He adds that if the laws made by men prove to be unjust and are against humanity then the people should have the right to disobey them.
When Henry David Thoreau calls government an “expedient” in “Civil Disobedience” his argument was that Government is tool for the people and they can use it whenever they need it.
He argued that the people could disobey the laws if they were unjust. He believes that there are two types of laws that exists, one that the God made and the other is by people.