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All 8 Flashcards — Do we owe the state obedience?
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Question
Political obligation?
Answer
A real moral duty to obey the state and its laws — not just fear of punishment.
Question
Where does the duty to obey come from?
Answer
Fairness: the state protects you and you take its benefits daily, so it's unfair to refuse your part while relying on others obeying.
Question
Is the duty to obey absolute?
Answer
No — it rests on the state being roughly fair; a deeply unjust law that attacks basic rights can forfeit the duty to obey it.
Question
Civil disobedience?
Answer
Openly and peacefully breaking an unjust law and accepting the penalty, to change that law while respecting law in general.
Question
Civil disobedience vs revolution?
Answer
Civil disobedience keeps the state but changes one unjust law; revolution overthrows and replaces the whole state.
Question
Why set the bar for disobedience high?
Answer
If everyone disobeyed laws they disliked, society would fall apart — so disobedience must be for serious injustice, done openly.
Question
The topic's chain of ideas?
Answer
Where authority comes from → what makes rule legitimate → whether we owe obedience. Each sets up the next.
Question
What lifts a Section B essay to the top band?
Answer
Arguing for AND against the claim, weighing the views and reaching a reasoned conclusion — not describing one side.
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Full study notes for Do we owe the state obedience?
Topic 7.1 hub
The state
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