... believed in civil disobedience, when acted for the correct reasons, was a useful tool to fight unjust law. King was a famous person then, now and will be. King found a law to be unjust then civil disobedience would be correct and morally right. King's guidelines to determine if a law is just or unjust were an integral part of his views on civil disobedience. In defining the definition between ... just and unjust laws, King says that a just law is those laws that align with the moral law or the law of god. On the other hand, an unjust law is that law that is not aligned with no moral law...

• Word Count: 540
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... to the concept of there being a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws by quoting St. Augustine: "an unjust law is no law at all." Recognizing the inherent ambiguity in deciding whether a law is "just" or "unjust" based upon the scant amount of information he has provided, King's next step is to define the terms "just law" and "unjust law." The basis of his definitions is that just laws are ... moral and rooted in the law of God, whereas unjust laws are immoral and go against the word of God. The inclusion of God in King's definitions is intended to provoke feelings of ... mainly phil...

• Word Count: 4137
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... questions the differences between just and unjust laws to justify his actions in Birmingham and the charges of breaking laws willingly. In "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King writes, "How does one determine when a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man made code that squares with moral law, or the law of god. An unjust law is a code that is out of ... harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas, an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law." Segregation laws and policies were ... does not apply to itself, then...

• Word Count: 700
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" strives to rationalize the desperate need for nonviolent direct action, the absolute immorality of unjust laws together with what a just law is, as well as, the increasing probability of the "Negro" resorting to extreme disorder and bloodshed, in addition to his utter disappointment with the Church who, in his ... inform the community about the issue is actually showing great respect for the law. King answers to the clergymen's assertion that breaking the law is not the way to achieve the resu...

• Word Count: 1011
• Approx Pages: 4

... have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?"(320) Thoreau addresses the idea of defying the government when the law is unjust. Additionally, Howard Zinn said, "I began to talk about Henry David Thoreau and his decision to break the law in protest against the U.S. invasion of Mexico in1846."(4) Later, Thoreau's defiance would influence Martin Luther King to also defy ... the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws A just law is a man-made code tha...

• Word Count: 1318
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

Socrates Vs King In the two reading assignments that were assigned each of the characters argue whether breaking the law is just or unjust. The characters namely being, Socrates and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., both have different outlooks on the authorities, and the laws in which they must abide by. Both stories are ... and Socrates have completely different outlooks on weather it's right to intentionally break the law. I think that the argument between Dr. King and Socrates is very apparent that they disagree on weather a person should intentionally break the law. Socrates being a firm bel...

• Word Count: 702
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... his arguments. He provides clear explanations of "just" and "unjust" laws. King defines "Just" laws as a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God" (159). "Unjust" laws is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law (159). As times back then, being religious was important, King identifies " ... ;unjust" laws almost as a contradiction to God's laws and "just" laws was ... Alabama because injustice was there. King directed the moral laws to his audience to convince them that what the white men is doing is unjust. Sometimes, we need to follow our heart and no...

• Word Count: 940
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... in jail numerous times. King uses the excuse that his actions were just since he was fighting an unjust law. He defines segregation and unjust laws like this "Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. It gives the segregator a false sense of superiority and ... the segregated a false sense of inferiority" (King, 146), "An unjust law is a code that a numerical power or majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not m...

• Word Count: 733
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" strives to justify the desperate need for nonviolent direct action, the absolute immorality of unjust laws together with what a just law is, as well as, the increasing probability of the "Negro" resorting to extreme disorder and bloodshed, in addition to his utter ... answer to the clergymen's assertion that breaking the law is not the way to achieve the results the African American is looking for. "Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that, an unjust law is no law at all". ...

• Word Count: 674
• Approx Pages: 3

... to calm their despair. Afterwards, Martin Luther King Jr. starts to explain the difference between when a law is either just or unjust. Many people fail to understand that as he says, "an unjust law is no law at all" quoting St. Augustine. Then he goes right to the main point and says ... that any law that degrades human personality is unjust and there's no exceptions to it. This makes sense because any single aspect that degrades human dignity or soul is unjust there is ... but later says that this matter of civil disobedience is in a way denying citizens of their privilege of a peacef...

• Word Count: 959
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... Americans live with is dependant upon the regulation of just laws. He defines a just law as " a manmade code that squares with the moral law or the law of God" (Jacobus 187). A law that is mandated on the minority, but the majority is not required to follow, is considered unjust (Jacobus 187). The unjust laws, such as the segregation statutes, infringed on humans rights, and therefore slows ... of unfair laws and the treatment of African Americans. Though he strove for a nonviolent campaign, the opposition, from the white community, retaliated with violence. In Birmingham, "Negroes have...

• Word Count: 1281
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... treatment of people to occur in one area that it will only spread to new areas and affect more and more people. If people see this unjust treatment being committed with out consequences over and over they will come to accept it as okay and something that is accepted. This would in turn ... in to consideration a persons logical thought when he talks about just and unjust laws. King says "A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law." The Clergymen express great concern over King is willingnes...

• Word Count: 1136
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... concern the injustice in America. He was arrested for protesting the treatment that African Americans received in Birmingham. "An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself a law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part ... . illustrated the corruption in society, wherein white people used atrocious methods to prevent African Americans from voting, violating the 15th Amendment. King used logo, a logical appeal, to clarify the, "unjust ...

• Word Count: 910
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... were "unwise and untimely." As a response, M.L.K. wrote a letter from his cell defending his actions. In this letter, Dr. King talks about the unjust treatment of him and the rest of the Negro population in America. The letter had a number of emotional appeals in it that I think are important to point ... . Dr. King takes advantage of the voice he has to make this letter effective. It is truly difficult to put into words exactly how much unjust treatment was received by African-Americans, but the use of imagery throughout the letter was heart wrenching. In a section of the letter, he talk...

• Word Count: 892
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... contradicting everything he had ever believed in. Socrates believed in the Athenian system and felt that the laws were right and just. He also felt that breaking the law would be betraying Athens and its people. If Socrates did not believe in the system, I do not think he would have stayed in Athens to be ... the public school system in 1954. So, he believed the Jim Crow laws should have been abandoned also. He believed in following the "just laws", but the "unjust laws" were to be broken. There were alternatives for M. L. King Jr. also. He could have done nothing and waited for the law...

• Word Count: 792
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... early Christians convicted for their beliefs by the Roman Empire. King mentioned how this group of religiously-devoted individuals faced hungry lions for failing to "[...] submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire" that deprived them of religious freedom (1152). The selections "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and "Ballad of Birmingham" by ... distinguished tradition. He claimed that one has a legal and moral obligation to follow laws. Conversely, King refuted this statement declaring that "[...] one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws" (King Jr. 1151). King believed h...

• Word Count: 675
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography

... as expected. Martin Luther King compares the 1963 circumstance in which Southern Blacks live, to that of Black slaves 100 years prior. "Any Negro who displayed a spark of manhood, a southern law enforcement officer could say "Nigger, watch your step or I"ll put you in jail"." (King p. 15) Jail to a Black American in the South meant certain death. Black Americans saw non ... " Connor. "You would have found a general atmosphere of violence and brutality in Birmingham." (King p. 35) Black and White alike lived in a state of fear, a fear that caused silence to the unjust way Black Americans ...

• Word Count: 1704
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... as expected. Martin Luther King compares the 1963 circumstance in which Southern Blacks live, to that of Black slaves 100 years prior. "Any Negro who displayed a spark of manhood, a southern law enforcement officer could say "Nigger, watch your step or I"ll put you in jail"." (King p. 15) Jail to a Black American in the South meant certain death. Black Americans saw non ... " Connor. "You would have found a general atmosphere of violence and brutality in Birmingham." (King p. 35) Black and White alike lived in a state of fear, a fear that caused silence to the unjust way Black Americans ...

• Word Count: 1704
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... as expected. Martin Luther King compares the 1963 circumstance in which Southern Blacks live, to that of Black slaves 100 years prior. "Any Negro who displayed a spark of manhood, a southern law enforcement officer could say "Nigger, watch your step or I"ll put you in jail"." (King p. 15) Jail to a Black American in the South meant certain death. Black Americans saw non ... " Connor. "You would have found a general atmosphere of violence and brutality in Birmingham." (King p. 35) Black and White alike lived in a state of fear, a fear that caused silence to the unjust way Black Americans ...

• Word Count: 1711
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... "One has not only the legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws." King goes on to support this statement with a quote from St. Augustine "an unjust law is no law at all" he consciously uses this quote so to reference a source that would be of respect to the Clergymen but ... believes that the manner in which he is breaking the laws is to better the community. King is considered to be a nuisance due to the fact that he was breaking a law however he sees the laws as morally wrong and is urging the Clergymen to view th...

• Word Count: 1506
• Approx Pages: 6

... highlights the issue of segregation and seems to imply the philosophical views of the two men with regard to positive verses natural law, a subject's duty to obey the law, how law should or should not be used to promote the common good, the harm to others principle, and the roles paternalism, autonomy ... guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"" (SullenToys, 2011). Martin Luther King implied that he felt that law had not been used to promote the common good of all men equally and that due to the heavier burden carried by the Negro without the .....

• Word Count: 2706
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... social problems involving race relations in the United States (Carter, 2004). The proposed federal End Racial Profiling Act of 2001 stated that racial profiling perpetuates this characterization of an unjust criminal justice system and that individuals subjected to racial profiling experience fear, anxiety, humiliation, anger, resentment and cynicism when they are unjustifiably treated as human suspects (Rivera, 2008 ... such as those on immigrants) have caused destruction on individuals, their families and communities by tearing them apart through raids and unjust detentions. Racial pro...

• Word Count: 1975
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... . According to Van Dusen, these action were against the law and must not be permitted under any circumstance in order to preserve the democracy. King writes," an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order ... to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law" (815). To King, nonviolence does ... not mean passively accepting anything unfair or unjust. According to him, Black American must take nonviolent actions to break Segregation law...

• Word Count: 465
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... ,distinguished history. Without Civil Disobedience, the Civil Rights Movement wouldn't have gotten very far in the 60's. Civil Disobedience is the refusal to obey the laws which are seen as unjust in an effort to bring about a chnage in governmental policy. The Civil Rights Movement is the movement of the 1950's and 1960's to win equal rights for all African Americans ... was a dispersed, grass-roots campaign that attacked segregation in many different places using different tactics. Civil Disobedience Civil Disobedience like stated before is the refusal to obey a law or follow a policy ...

• Word Count: 1562
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... . According to Van Dusen, these action were against the law and must not be permitted under any circumstance in order to preserve the democracy. King writes," an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order ... to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law" (815). To King, nonviolence does ... not mean passively accepting anything unfair or unjust. According to him, Black American must take nonviolent actions to break Segregation law...

• Word Count: 461
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School