Philosophy
The Political Philosophy of Civil Disobedience and Conscientious Objection
Quick fact
Henry David Thoreau, who coined the term 'civil disobedience,' refused to pay a poll tax in protest of slavery and the Mexican-American War, and spent a night in jail. His essay on the act has influenced Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Tolstoy, showing that a single act of conscience can inspire worldwide movements.
Why this is interesting
You see someone being arrested at a protest, and they're smiling. They aren't a criminal—they're a philosopher in action. Why would someone deliberately break a law they believe is unjust, and yet claim to respect the rule of law?