Henry David Thoreau
1. Examine quotations from Thoreau that focus on the individual and the question of justice and ethical treatment of the individual by government. What are the values of the government that Thoreau describes and how might that government see its moral obligations to the governed? How would it treat mattes of justice, ethics, and morality? To what extent does the government of Thoreau's time resemble the government of our time?
"The best government is the best which governs least"
Thoreau said governments that govern the least are the best forms of government. He doesn't believe in a large government where the majority have all the power in making decisions. With his type of government they would want to insure freedom to the people. Modern government is ran by people who are legislatures, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office holders. "They serve the state with their heads and rarely make any moral distinctions." With Thoreau's thought of government there would be an entire new government. A government of Thoreau's time wouldn't resemble a government of our time. Our current government is too unjust and unpractical.
2. Do some research on the Mexican War and decide whether or not there were any significant concerns that warranted Thoreau's reaction. Who's was fighting? Who started the war? What were President's Polk's intentions and were those intentions ethical?
The Mexican War was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. The war started after President James Knox Polk, pressured congress for an immediate declaration of war on Mexico. Polk wanted to push Mexico into negotiating with the United States, and he was willing to push things to the limit to get what he wanted. He didn't want an actual war, but if it happened he planned for it to be a small and quick war. If Polk had tried to negotiate again but in a different approach things might have worked out and been more ethical.
James Knox Polk
No comments:
Post a Comment