MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE – THE CASE OF HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Abstract

The article provides an analysis of the motivational factors which moved Henry David Thoreau to practice civil disobedience to the American government through tax resistance. Motivational factors are defined as Thoreau’s ethical and philosophical beliefs, which moved him to act when they came in conflict with the policy in question. Since the historical context of the act is important for understanding of the topic and the act itself, special attention is paid to the political situation in the United States at the time. The article also explains the philosophical background and foundation of the decision to practice civil disobedience through tax resistance and the objective of the action. The first part of the article discusses the concept of civil disobedience with special emphasis on different definitions and classifications and their application to the act of Henry David Thoreau. This is followed by the explanations of the context, after which the article proceeds to explain the philosophical premises of the act. Eventually, two hypotheses – that Henry David Thoreau’s act was founded in the coherent philosophy and that it was primarily moved by consciousness and not the act’s potential to change the policy in question, are discussed and proven. The article is relevant for the study of civil disobedience through tax resistance and civil disobedience in general because it explains the role of the motivational factors on the example of the well known, influential and often discussed historical case.