Ethical Autonomy and the Right to Resistance in Modern Democracies
Abstract
This article examines the conceptual framework of democracy and the inherent ethical right of citizens to resist state authority when it conflicts with individual conscience. The author traces the evolution of democratic ideals from Cleisthenes' reforms in ancient Athens to contemporary representative systems, noting the tension between the ideal of the "active citizen" and the reality of the "passive subject". Central to the discussion is the concept of ethical autonomy—the capacity of the individual to act according to self-legislated moral principles—and how this autonomy serves as the ultimate justification for political disobedience. Drawing on the theories of Plato, Herbert Marcuse, and Anthony Giddens, the paper analyzes how modern globalization and the "extraordinary functioning" of affluent societies can paradoxically suppress true freedom by marginalizing minorities and commodifying public discourse. The study concludes that the right to resistance is not merely a political tool but a moral necessity for the preservation of human dignity within a democratic state.
Article Details
- How to Cite
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Chaziroglou, L. T. (2020). Ethical Autonomy and the Right to Resistance in Modern Democracies. Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (3), 29–36. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22654
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- No. 3 (2007)
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- Articles
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