Abstract

The development of the concept of obedience in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's thought, in the background of German history of the first half of last century, is an interesting document about the overcoming of the "metaphysical" in¬terpretation of political obligation. From a substantial refusal of the right to political disobedience the protestant theologist moves towards an admission of the legitimacy of political disobedience; initially only in the name of a higher religious obedience (i.e. the case of conscious objectors to the military service), but subsequently, in the conspiracy against Hitler, also in the name of the re¬sponsibility towards the people.