Civil Disobedience

ISBN-13: 9781441132093 / Angielski / Miękka / 2013 / 176 str.

Tony Milligan

Opis

Civil disobedience is a form of protest with a special standing with regards to the law that sets it apart from political violence. Such principled law-breaking has been witnessed in recent years over climate change, economic strife, and the treatment of animals. Civil disobedience is examined here in the context of contemporary political activism, in the light of classic accounts by Thoreau, Tolstoy, and Gandhi to call for a broader attitude towards what civil disobedience involves. The question of violence is discussed, arguing that civil disobedience need only be aspirationally non-violent and that although some protests do not clearly constitute law-breaking they may render people liable to arrest. For example, while there may not be violence against persons, there may be property damage, as seen in raids upon animal laboratories. Such forms of militancy raise ethical and legal questions.Arguing for a less restrictive theory of civil disobedience, the book will be a valuable resource for anyone studying social movements and issues of political philosophy, social justice, and global ethics.

Recenzje

Civil Disobedience is essential reading on modern protest and its origins. In particular, Tony Milligan critically evaluates with clarity and insight such key contemporary issues as the Occupy Movement, abortion and animal liberation. This is an important book in a vital field that deserves serious attention. Kim Stallwood, Animals and Society Institute

Spis treści

1 The Occupy Movement2 A problematic concept 3 The argument from below4 Reactionary disobedience over abortion5 Disobedience in defense of cruelty6 Thoreau, conscience, and the state 7 Tolstoy's politicization of love8 Gandhi and satyagraha9 King, pragmatism, and principle10 Defending the environment11 Open rescue and animal liberation12 Covert animal rescue13 The higher law14 The question of violenceBibliography NotesIndex

O autorze

Tony Milligan is an Honorary Research Fellow in Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen, UK. He has published in a number of academic and popular journals, including Philosophy, Ratio, the Journal of Applied Ethics, Think and Philosophy Now.