Exigências morais da resistência ao governo civil e a razoabilidade do Estado em Thoreau

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the moral requirements for resistance to civil government in Henry David Thoreau, based on his essay Civil Disobedience and his philosophical experiences. The study analyzes how individual conscience, guided by inalienable principles, underpins the right to resist a state considered unjust, especially in contexts such as slavery and the war against Mexico. Furthermore, it explores the notion of a reasonable state in Thoreau, and how this same state can become morally acceptable by respecting the integrity and autonomy of the individual. The research engages with interpretations by 19th-century and contemporary authors, positioning Thoreau as an essential thinker for political philosophy and civil disobedience movements.