Extended Essays 2021

Abstract

This essay explores through means of philosophical intervention the moral

permissibility of insurrection within the bounds of a democratically elected

government. In doing so, I will address the question, of the permissibility for people to

rebel and openly dissent against a government that holds power through the will of the

people. Specifically, this inquiry will evaluate the contrasting theories of Thomas

Hobbes and John Locke, with Immanuel Kant and Hannah Arendt as supporting

philosophers. Additionally, this moral permissibility will be evaluated within the

framework of the Trumpian Boogaloo and their attempt to restore power to their

supposed rightful ruler, Donald Trump. My thesis as such is that though Hobbes

conveys various relevant concepts that can be applied to past governments, its

relevance today is limited and can be better understood through Locke’s theories.

The methodology for research is based on two philosophical texts: Hobbes’s

Leviathan (1651) and Locke’s Second Treatise (1689). In concluding analysis,

theories of Arendt’s Civil Disobedience (1972) and Kant’s concepts of social politics

will be employed. Drawing upon these philosophical works, the permissibility of citizen

dissent can be applied to sources regarding the Boogaloo and their movements across

the United States of America, particularly that of the Capitol Attack of 2021. In the

conclusion, it is evident that due to the nature of governmental power, there is great

room for corruption and ignorance. As a result, it is found necessary that society is

able to dissent against a government that no longer serves its needs.

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