discusses whether it is all right to disobey or to obey the government. Includes some of Plato's ideas
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For centuries many philosophers have asked themselves, 'What is the right thing to do?'. They do have some guidance but cannot totally rely on most of these references. One of these references is the system of laws that the government has imposed onto the population that lives inside their boundaries. Can this system of laws really be just? Can we base our judgement on what is right and what is wrong according to these set of rules? In the following pages, I will explain whether it is all right to disobey or to obey the government.
In Plato: The Trial and Death of Socrates, Socrates discussed with Crito his argument on the topic of 'Persuade or Obey.' Socrates states that you must persuade the government that your actions were just or one must obey its laws. Whether it 'requires you to fight in a war and die for your die for your country or be wounded, you must still obey (p51b3).' He goes on to say that to obey is 'right, and one must not give way or retreat or leave one's post, but in courts or war, one must obey
the commands of one's city and country (p51b6-b8).' The next part of his argument states that one that disobeys does wrong in three ways, by disobeying his parents and those who brought him up, and by disobeying, he neither obeys us nor he tries to persuade us to do better. Socrates' point is that we must obey the laws of the city or country where you reside in because you chose to stay and use the resources offered to you. Choosing to stay also tell us that you are satisfied to live there. Therefore, you exclusively choose the government and agree to be one of their citizens.
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