A Critical Analysis of Civil Disobedience, an Essay by

Henry David Thoreau

In his Essay, “Civil Disobedience”, Henry David Thoreau argues that society functions the most
efficiently when it is not ruled by an overpowering monarch, or by a strong central government,
but by the people, essentially having self-reliant peoples that do not necessarily need a
government, per se, yet are able to call upon it in times of crisis. Thoreau’s estimation of the
goodwill, and intelligence of mankind is vastly overreaching, and his theories of government are
only applicable in small cases.

Thoreau outright states that, "That government is best which governs least", he is signifying the
fact that governments which do not do such, are the superior forms. This is contradictory, in the
sense that one cannot seek to want a government, yet one that governs the minimal amount. By
om
maintaining a government that has strong enough powers to help in times of crisis, yet one that
has minimal interference with the peoples, one sets up a paradox. How is it possible to have a
c

ruling body that is strong enough to interfere when needed, yet is trusted, and expected not to
r.

interfere otherwise? In order to maintain this type of self-sustaining, non-involved form of rule,
one must be in an extremely small group of people, less than 10, even. The overall level of
xe

diligence, intelligence, and self-determination within the human population is extremely low. In
fi

order to successfully employ a form of government that “is best which governs not at all”, one
must have a population of peoples with similar interests and goals. In a small group of people,
es

in which a common goal was a unifying factor, say in a time when survival was the primary goal,
Thoreau’s proposed ideals would be successful. When a peoples are united, under a common
ad

cause, each one will work hard to achieve that goal, and the titular “Civil Disobedience” will not
be evident.
gr

Typically crime, or disobedience arises from complacency, or lack of needs being met; when all
the people’s needs are the primary goal, in the minds of the people themselves who are
working hard to achieve that goal, no one person will have the need to break the common law
set out by the people’s “government”. Essentially, in the case of Thoreau’s perfect
government, the intervention clause, in which the government can be strong, centrally, in the
times of crisis, is not necessarily needed. When crises arise, all members of the society will
seek to maintain the good standing, and good capabilities of said government. All peoples will
fight to maintain their way of life, and the rallying capabilities of the central government are not
needed to be harnessed, they are presently inherent. If the government is made up of a set of
self-reliant peoples, who seek the same goal from the society, and will work to propagate the
completion of that goal; Thoreau’s “best government”; then the strong central government that

Need help with the assignment?

Our professionals are ready to assist with any writing!

GET HELP
 arises in times of crises is simply the natural response of the peoples who have been slighted.
Humans are a reactionary peoples, and if provoked, can react in extremely territorial, and even
predatory manners. When their goals are threatened, or their way of life is seemingly going to
break down, the peoples lash out.

The natural reaction of humans, in times of crises, is to band together, to form strong links to
fight for the continuation of what was the norm. Thoreau’s “best government”, is evident in
small groups of extremely rare peoples in the world, comprised of ones who are intelligent, and
do not simply “serve the state... as machines”, yet fight for a common cause, one that is
evidently self-benefiting, and of the utmost importance.

c om
r.
xe
fi
es
ad
gr

Need help with the assignment?

Our professionals are ready to assist with any writing!

GET HELP

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)