Having read both Crito and Civil Disobedience there are several conspicuous similarities as well as notable differences. Both of these documents deal with the government and how the people should view it. However, in Crito, Socrates is more devoted to the government and would uphold its decisions even if it cost him his life. Thoreau on the other hand believes that the government is not always right and it is up to the people to criticize it so that it can be improved. Both of these essays were written while the authors were in jail. Socrates is in jail awaiting the death penalty in Crito, while Thoreau wrote Civil Disobedience while he was incarcerated.
This similarity however creates different tones in both essays. In Crito the moral is to be obedient and submissive to the government at all costs, even death. Thoreau however probably felt much greater hatred of the government for his minor penalty and instead of preaching obedience he went off on a different tangent. Despite Thoreaus contumacious thoughts his essay holds more promise for the future because instead of blindly accepting obvious faults in the system, Thoreau encourages protest for even the minor flaws because otherwise no progress will ever come out of our society. His ideas bear resemblance to the general flow of knowledge, we must speak out against established beliefs in the face of adversity, much like Copernicus did when he ruled the Sun and not the Earth as the center of the universe. He challenged the beliefs of the church and risked his life and liberty but we have to thank him today because although he made his life more miserable the knowledge we have gained has Although Thoreau has made many pertinent and valid points in his essay Crito also holds many notable aspects in dealing with government problems.
The Essay on Civil Disobedience Government Thoreau Unjust
Thoreau's Civil Disobedience espouses the need to prioritize one's conscience over the dictates of laws. It criticizes American social institutions and policies, most prominently slavery and the Mexican-American War. Thoreau begins his essay by arguing that government rarely proves itself useful and that it derives its power from the majority because they are the strongest group, not because they ...
Crito teaches peace and stamina when dealing with problems. Eventually through popular opinion what must be done will be done, however for the time being you must obey all laws regardless of the severity or pertinence to you and must welcome the punishment if you knowingly commit a crime. This sort of non violent way of life is only suited for an utopia. The reason this cannot exist in the real world with quick results is that everybody wants different rules and laws. The Catholic church has quite different views on what is right and wrong than a criminal. there can be no one set of laws that encompasses all the people and nobody feels oppressed.
There will always be In conclusion both Crito and Civil Disobedience raise many points on how the people are supposed to react to an oppressive government. However, in the real world only the teachings in Civil Disobedience can bring about change because nobody will ever hear us if we dont complain. It is through criticism, and protest that abrupt reform can be brought around. Critos lessons only work in an imaginary utopia where everybody wants the same thing and everyone has the same exact same views on the government.
