PHILOS 2G03 Chapter MLK: Readings 14 – Letter from Birmingham
26 Mar 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. One may well ask, how can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?". The answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws: there are just and there are unjust laws. Laws that fall short of the standard of just are unjust. Sometimes laws are just on its face and unjust in its application. Unjust: an unjust law is a code that a majority inflicts on a minority that is not binding on itself. An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its unjust.
