Question

select the correct answer.
in his essay \civil disobedience,\ henry david thoreau wrote \that government is best which governs least.\ which answer best shows how this motto reflects transcendentalist principles?
a. an ideal government does not exist, so anarchy is best for a nation.
b. citizens require the government to define the difference between right and wrong.
c. government can act as an impediment to the will and morality of individual men.
d. an ideal nation is one that is not governed by a monarchy or dictatorship.
e. government on a large scale is inefficient and should be managed at the state level.

Explanation:

In "Civil Disobedience", Thoreau's transcendentalist view emphasizes limited government interference. Option C states "Government can act as an impediment to the will and morality of individual men", which aligns with his idea that government often hinders individual moral and will - driven actions, and that the best government is one that governs least. Option A is incorrect as Thoreau didn't advocate anarchy. Option B is not related to his transcendentalist view on government. Option D is about the type of governance (monarchy/dictatorship) which is not the focus here. Option E is about government scale and management level, not his main transcendentalist principle on government.

Answer:

C. Government can act as an impediment to the will and morality of individual men