Logos: Thoreau's: Civil Disobedience

What is logos? Logos is the author’s persuasive appeal to a logical argument. It is a way they obtain some type of credibility in there works.

In analyzing Henry Thoreau’s: Civil Disobedience, it is concluded that there are a few examples in this document.

For one he definitely felt the need that a government that is unjust cannot be a government. He goes on long-winded about how a person should not have to follow  a “law” if it is unjust.

He himself actually, explains to us in his writing that he was arrested for not paying his taxes. Why? Well because he stood up against a law he thought was unjust. He did this because slavery was not being abolished.  This exemplifies his reasoning. It also shows why his argument is logical.  He states in his opening paragraph “also I believe—‘That government is best which governs not at all’" he puts meaning to this saying. He is not saying that no government is needed, but better yet that if a government is not governing “just” laws, then it is not governing at all.

Another argument Thoreau writes upon is how The United States is in such an aggressive war. A reason behind him not being for the government. This was the Mexican-American war. So why might this war be so aggressive? Well for one Thoreau felt as though this war was rather forced then accepted. He feels as though “the people” did not have a voice. This also is a logical reason in which he does not feel the need to obey an unjust law.

Through out his paper he gives reasoning behind each action.