Under what conditions is it morally justified to break the law? In what sort of cases would you endorse civil disobedience? In your answer, think about 1) how you would define the idea of an unjust or immoral law. Would you agree with St. Augustine that 'an unjust law is no law at all'? And 2) what cases (if any) would count in your view as legitimate uses of civil disobedience?

Personally I believe it is ok to break the law when it interferes with personal freedom or offends you to the point where you want to fight it in any way possible.  For example, many people did not agree with slavery, which was law long ago. Many people broke the law and help slaves escape capture. Another example is you are unhappy with a law passed by congress and you decide to block the doors to a government agency. Under these conditions I agree with breaking the law. I endorse civil disobedience when the crime is made to draw attention to something that is not right in the person’s eyesight. We all might not agree but your opinion to yourself is what matters the most. An unjust law is something that may discriminate against you or something that may interfere with your rights as a human being. I agree with St Augustine that “an unjust law is no law at all”. Why should I follow something that I don’t believe in or respect? 

Classical liberals like Mill usually argue that so long as you aren't being coerced or forced to do something by the state, then you are free. People sympathetic to Marx are likely to argue that freedom requires that we are protected from forms of coercion that stem from economic disparities, and that this perhaps requires some kind of active state intervention to make sure that we are free to make our own economic choices. What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree with Mill or Marx? Or perhaps a little with both?

I like both ideas that Mill and Marx have, but I do not agree fully on everything. I agree with Mill’s on the harm principle. I think we should be allowed to do as we please as long as it’s not causing harm to anyone but ourselves. This is a contradiction though because I feel like everything is connected in the universe. Someone using drugs is only harming themselves at the time, but what about the effects of the drug on the brain. What if that person goes off and kills someone? For example, let’s say we have two people named Billy and Bobby. Billy and Bobby uses the narcotic crack. Billy uses crack and it doesn't interfere with anyone’s life but his own. On the other hand Bobby uses crack and ends up stealing to support his habit. Because of people like Bobby, laws are in place by our government. Although I do not condone drug use, isn’t it a violation of Billy’s rights to infringe a law that’s in place because of Bobby’s actions. So Although I like the idea of the harm principle I just don’t see how it can work in the world we live in today. Rules need to be set for the crazy people out there. The thing I like about Marx is how he acknowledges the struggle between classes and how it effects choices people make. If you do not have enough money for college this effects how and what you will become. Although I do not agree with communism, I’m not sure if it’s because this is what I was taught or because I genuinely do not agree, I am still questioning this myself.

According to Buddhism, the main source of our suffering is our preoccupation with our own desires. Suffering is said to be caused by selfish cravings and desires. The way to enlightenment, for Buddhism, therefore involves detaching from our narrow concern with ourselves, escaping the prison of our own desires and illusions. Do you think it is possible to live according to this teaching in the contemporary United States? Is there a conflict between what Buddhism teaches, and how we are encouraged to think and act in our society? What are your thoughts on this?

I really don’t think it is possible to live the way Buddhism teaches especially in the United States. Buddhism teaches you to reject materialistic things. The United States is based on capitalism. You want us to get rid of our iPhones, laptops, Jordan sneakers and all the other things people hold dear to themselves? Not going to happen! From young we are taught to strive for things. To have a goal and a dream of what we want to accomplish in life. We are taught if you do not have any dreams or desires for worldly possessions then you are a bum. I say this all the time; my goal in life is to be happy. I don’t want to be the next Bill Gates. I don’t want to drive a car that has the same value as a small country. What would bring me happiness? My health, my children’s health and living comfortably are my views of succeeding in life. Our society teaches this is not enough. You have to strive for the best of the best and work until you are at the top of the top. It’s kind of sad because I believe life would be so much better if we lived as the Buddhist. I mean living for you instead of living for what you can get sounds way better. Because guess what, once we die, that car, that iPhone, that house, and those Jordan’s are not going with us. But you can die happy and at peace knowing that you mastered yourself and found the connection to what truly matters in life.