Civil Disobedience - Thomas More, Antigone - Essay Example

Acha Civil Disobedience Before the eleventh century, Western Europe had no forms of legal systems. There were no professionals in the field of legislature as well as schools to the same effect. Kings passed out judgements and proclaimed some laws but such laws were just local hence not centralized and systematic. In the eighth and ninth century, there was the development of a rudimentary official law of kings. However, it also became biased and it relied on the social structure. In the eleventh century, western Christianity began to spread prompting people to be more civilised and educated. It was during this time that the Western Tradition Law was formed and begun to develop. Sometimes, citizens felt that some laws are unjust hence result to resisting them. Most often, the resistance is non-violent and the citizens seek to disobey certain laws, commands of the government as well as new rules introduced by those occupying power intended to benefit themselves at the expense of the citizens. It is a respectful disagreement for the sake of what is fair and true. Edward Joseph Snowden is an American Computer specialist. He is a former agent of the Central Intelligence Agency as well as a former contractor of National Security Agency. Edward decided to leak some classified documents to the media outlets, these documents contained some information of global surveillance. The surveillance systems collected and analysed information on foreigners and Americans. Snowden did this because he felt that it was interfering with the privacy of the citizens. His action received varied opinions besides tagged a patriot, traitor, whistle-blower as well as a spy. Thomas More (from a Man for All Seasons) Thomas More was born at a time when school emphasized the value of authority, hierarchy, and social disciplines. He grew up with the belief that law went hand in hand with morality and morality corresponded with religion (Watson 8-10). According to More, morality was superior compared to law and that creation of laws had to base on the moral ethics. However, More believed in obedience of law and authority. According to him, law was uniform and there would be social disorder the leaders used their moral beliefs to rule. He calmed that it was a moral duty for individuals to obey the law. One of the famous quotes from him was that “I will give the devil the benefit of law, for my own safety.” (Watson 8-10) More served under King Henry VIII, he considered his way of ruling to be unjust and not wise. As much as he was not happy with the ways of the king, he still served the king and followed some of his commands that he felt were against morality. Sometimes he gave the King contrary advice but once the law was set, he complied. More’s way of political thinking relied on the understanding that respect for authority was key (Watson 8). From More’s point of view therefore, it was wrong for Snowden to expose the secrets of the government. As much as they were against what was moral. This implies he should have respected authority and kept certain facts secret. According to More, obeying the authority needs priority for the sake of one’s safety, which based on my opinion is not always applicable in all times. Antigone Antigone had two brothers who were in the opposite sides of the new ruler of Thebes. They both died while fighting for the throne. According to Creon, the ruler, one brother, Eteocles deserved an honourable burial whereas the rebel brother, Polyneices needed subjection to public humiliation. Antigone felt that that is was total injustice to her brother. Antigone swore to commit a crime for the sake of honouring her brother besides the gods, something she deemed more important (Forji 156). Antigone believed that by taking the risk and disobeying the law, she would be honouring her brother, this explains the height of civil disobedience she had. Antigone decided to bury her brother Polyneices instead of leaving him in the battlefield for vultures and worms. She then admitted that she had buried her brother and that she is was ready to pay the price of death for committing the crime. According to Antigone’s statement, “I go thus cursed, unmarried, to dwell without a home (Forji 159).” It shows that she had sacrificed her life for the sake of her brother. From Antigone’s point of view, Snowden acts are justified because just like Antigone, he took a risk that could cost him his life to protect the people from injustice. By revealing the information on global surveillanv, it was an act of civil disobedience and selflessness. Socrates (in the Apology and Crito dialogues) Socrates was in prison following accusations of an impiety offence that nobody could understand. Crito visited him in sell and asked him to escape because his prosecution could affect the reputation of his friends and family. His friends were willing to find him a comfortable place in exile. Socrates was however reluctant and told Cerrito that public opinion did not matter and by escaping he would deft the laws. Crito tried to explain to him that it was an act of injustice for him to face prosecution due to false accusations (Miller 1). Socrates however decided to use the Law of Athens to determine if it was unjust to escape from prison. According to the laws, it was unjust and so Socrates felt that breaking the law would be an offence (Miller 1). Socrates convinced Crito that it would be unwise to escape because by living in Athens, he had chosen to abide by the rules. He did not want people to judge him even after death for behaving unjustly (Miller 1). From this view, it was unjust for Snowden to let out the secrets of the government because he went against the government. He was supposed to obey authority even though the actions were unjust. It also condemns the acts of Snowden because he escaped to Russia and other destinations making people question his patriotism. According to Socrates, running away should never be an option because one should stand for the truth and face the consequences. In my personal opinion, Snowden did what was just be leaking the secrets of the government. The government had been acting contrary to the constitution and it had to be exposed. Those in power have no right to dent the citizens and foreigners the right to privacy. It was a selfless act on the part of Snowden and risky as well because he put his life on the line. By exposing the government, he subjected himself to a life of living in exile for the sake of his safety. A hero stands for what is right and cannot let injustice pass unnoticed. The act of committing and ignoring injustice for the sake of obeying authority should be termed as an act of cowardice. Snowden should however return home bravely instead of hiding so that people recognize him as a true agent of civil disobedience. Work Cited Forji, Amin George. Just Laws versus Unjust Laws: Asserting the Morality of Civil Disobedience. Journal of Politics & Law, Sep2010, Vol. 3 Issue 2, p156-169, 14p. Publisher: Canadian Centre of Science & Education. Miller, Carl. Socrates and Civil Disobedience: Would Socrates Oppose the Civil Disobedience of Martin Luther King, Jr.? Conference Papers -- Midwestern Political Science Association. 2009 Annual Meeting, p1 Watson, Don. A man for all seasons. Monthly, The, August, Aug 2013: 8-10. Database: Informit Literature & Culture Collection Read More