Final answer:
Civil disobedience is a non-violent method of political participation used historically in social movements and involves deliberate lawbreaking based on moral reasons. It has been studied by sociologists who examine collective behavior, the development of social movements, and the motivations driving participation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Civil disobedience is a form of political participation that involves a deliberate and open non-violent action that breaks the law. Henry David Thoreau, a key figure in the history of civil disobedience, wrote an influential essay on the subject in 1848 after his public refusal to pay a poll tax. Prominent figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks have also employed civil disobedience as a method to challenge and seek to change unjust laws and social practices. It is an action taken based on moral conscience and a recognition of a higher moral law, often with the aim of enacting social or political change.
Civil disobedience has played a critical role in various social movements throughout history, from the Boston Tea Party to the Civil Rights Movement. Sociologists study civil disobedience and other forms of collective behavior to understand their development, purposes, and the motivations of those involved.
The question, "Civil disobedience CommonLit answers... A) Study of social movements B) Analysis of historical protests C) Examination of political philosophy D) Exploration of legal theories", seems to refer to the content scope of the material on civil disobedience. The correct answer would likely be related to an examination of historical protests (B), the study of social movements (A), and elements of political philosophy (C), although the question format does not provide the context for a definitive single response. Understanding of civil disobedience encompasses various aspects, including social movements, political philosophy, and historical protests, all of which are critical to sociological study and analysis.