The Declaration of Independence as Obligation
About this episode
The episode explores the duty to overthrow tyrannical governments as articulated in the Declaration of Independence, examining its implications through various lenses.
The episode examines the Declaration of Independence’s claim that people may have a duty—not just a right—to overthrow tyrannical government. Martha Minow explores possible foundations for that duty in natural law, religion, international norms, and psychology, while Jenny Martinez emphasizes the Declaration’s mutual pledge as an enduring obligation to fulfill its promises across American history. Together, they highlight the tension between universal ideals and the duties of a particular political community.
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