How is "civil disobedience" defined?

Civil disobedience is defined as the active, peaceful refusal to comply with laws or government demands that one considers unjust or immoral. This form of protest emphasizes the individual's moral responsibility to stand against laws that conflict with their principles. It is rooted in the idea that just because a law exists does not mean it is just or ethical, and individuals have the right to challenge that law through non-violent means.

The concept is often associated with notable figures such as Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr., who demonstrated civil disobedience as a way to advocate for social change and justice. Their actions highlighted the distinction between lawfulness and morality, clarifying that civil disobedience is a deliberate, conscious choice to reject certain laws for a higher ethical purpose. This understanding explains why the correct answer pertains to moral grounds, which is integral to the definition of civil disobedience.