Morality in Politics Essay

People be compel to face advancedeous ch tout ensembleenges in fashioning day-to-day decisions. When it settles to benefitting individual and societal vertical, the great chief of politics is raised what is the rightfulness thing to do? In Sophocles Antigone, there is a dilemma whether to go by the fairnesss of the gods above the jurisprudences of the articulate. Antigone makes a decision that non altogether affects her future entirely the future of the res globea under her uncles rule. Antigone gains a high object lesson sense in that she haped the laws of the gods and therefore did the chastely right choice going against state laws, either quality can be deemed as morally correct.In this essay it will be argued that citizens should be quit to disobey state laws when sense of right and wrong dictates. Sophocles play enacts the moral conflict of reason between the laws of the gods and the laws of state. He presents the reviewer with a dilemma involving relig ious rituals passed d aver in the family and a new law passed by a ruler of the state. Antigone and her uncle, Creon, pass around a different tack of determine. Creon, the ruler of Thebes, values the constant order of the state and the public good.Antigone values family and religion, and views these commitments as superior to the laws enforce by her uncle. She claims, there is an unchangeable unwritten label of Heaven, (Sophocles, Antigone, 17) and she decides to act against the laws of her uncle to fulfill the laws of the gods, by giving her fellow a proper burial ritual against Creons will. Antigone considers her uncles laws as sacrilege. Creon thought that his decision would gain stability to his state, as he claimed that by decadence few men thrive and many come to mischief, (Sophocles, Antigone, 12).Creon places the polis above family and religious values and disregards the values that Antigone holds sacred. Sophocles positions Antigone as being the heroine of the play and allows her to saveify her decisions, with the taking of her own life Antigone do a statement and accentuates the power she held and that Creon lacked. In the end, Creon is left with feelings of regret and no family, therefrom punished by the gods for not abiding by their laws. Antigone believed that her rights were not given to her by Creon but quite given to her by the gods.She was only doing what she thought was morally right. Antigone is a religious being and clearly values the gods higher than the state she is spontaneous to face the consequences. Antigone was willing to meet with nothing more grievous, at the worst, than death, with honour, (Sophocles, Antigone, 4) she courageously fulfilled her duties as a religious being. many an(prenominal) great deal would applaud Antigones withstandry, for any toffee-nosed interest should be allowed to challenge the public good. In doing so, I believe that those private interests could at last arise into a public interest.In the play, a seer visits Creon to warn him of the consequences that form been brought about from his unsportsmanlike laws. If it had not have been for Antigone publicly objecting to Creons law, it would probably not have been such a big supply that brought the concern of others. Antigone allowed for others to oppugn Creons law and pass on if it is morally right to go against the laws of the gods. Publicly refusing to happen a law brings attention to an issue that differently would have been ignored. virtuoso great example in our society is during the Civil Rights era Martin Luther poof juniors actions brought great attention to the issue of racial segregation. He believed that it was right to openly break a law that was not supposed to be a law at all. His actions although non-violent broke many laws that were made to impede success among the African American cosmos in the U. S. He believed that by publicly and consciously breaking the law exposes brutality and promotes p articipation. In doing so, the community against the law were perceived as being brave and those watching were forced to question what was just.When issues become public and catch the interest of the majority of the masses in the polis, the political sympathies is forced to do virtuallything about it. Creon responded with a stern and much similarly harsh penalization that led to the death of his niece, son and wife but if Antigone would not have contested his law he could have eventually reached complete domination of policy-making power. The ecumenic population supported Antigone but they were too afraid to say anything until they ultimately felt that something moldiness be done. Creon was running a totalitarian government and was corrupting the state.He was unable to see how partial his law was until others brought it to his attention and tried to convince him that his mathematical function of power was wrong. Antigones defying actions instilled courage in the people to also speak against their ruler. It might be objected that when someone disobeys state laws whenever their conscience dictates they argon only dowery themselves, the person breaking the law is not thinking about the commonality good but earlier fulfilling their own good or promoting anarchy. Civil disobedience whitethorn seem reasonable when we consider Martin Luther King younger s situation but it may not ever so be driven with good intentions.By disobeying, regardless of good or unfit intentions, they are hurting the stability of the state. Creon argues, Obedience is repayable to the state officer in small and great, just and unjust commandments (Sophocles, Antigone, 26). Creon did not bother to judge his laws as just or unjust, he simply did what he considered was good for the state. It is thought that if people continue to enthral themselves in breaking the laws of the state that they will eventually break every law and lose all honour for the state. Civil disobedienc e may not always serve the public good and only serve to undermine order.Breaking a law weakens the state and its order, it promotes anarchy and disrespects authority. It should not be encouraged or tolerated. It is a civic moral excellence to abide by the laws of the state it is what leads to its success and stability. By breaking the law Antigone was faced with death, she claimed that she was awardinging the gods and that they would honor her in the end. But one must question if honor is worth the permanence of death. Many people feel so strongly about their opinions that they are wiling to die just as Antigone did in Sophocles play.One notable person in history is Socrates he willingly faced all punishments administered to him. He claimed to have had a contract with his state of Athens that cause him to accept punishments for taking advantage of the state in the first place. This shows that even though Socrates may have broken some law, he still held respect for the state. not every person that breaks a law is completely recalcitrant. Like Socrates, those who fight for civil rights and follow what they believe to be morally correct are aware of their wrongdoings and make it a statement when they finally submit to the law.They are submitting to punishments even if they are deemed unjust only to prove to the state that their morals are important and can withstand any punishment. In facing moral challenges one is often forced to face it is always difficult to decipher what is right and what is wrong. Everyone has different values and obligations. Here, Antigones values outweighed Creons overwhelmingly unjust laws. One must always question what is more important and find a balance between the two. Civil disobedience is allowed when the conscience dictates in situations that lead to a greater good.Not all private interests are egocentric some may also reflect the interest of the general population. Antigone, although harshly punished just as Martin Luther Kin g, Jr. and Socrates were as well, have all rose among the common people and proved to be great. They encompassed a choler and bravery for their beliefs that was able to attract attention to conflicts in the law. Without their brave actions the state would not have been open to change and reach a new take aim of stability.