Which of these best describes the central idea of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience? Select all that apply.

An individual is only obligated to act in ways he or she feels are right.

The fact that an opinion is held by a majority does not necessarily make it right.

Individuals should refuse to cooperate with institutions they believe unjust.

Only the threat of mass rebellion can keep government from abusing its powers.

The central idea is that:

Individuals should refuse to cooperate with institutions they believe unjust.

Thoreau felt that governments were more often agents of corruption than justice, even democracies, and that just because the majority feels a certain way does not make it just or correct in absolute terms. He uses the fact that slavery exists in our democracy to support this idea.

He goes on to say that, as a result, people should live true to their own internal laws regarding right and wrong, as a product of reflection and a moral life, rather than following every law that society imposes.

1. An individual is only obligated to act in ways he or she feels are right.

And

2. The fact that an opinion is held by a majority does not necessarily make it right.