Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

What philosophy does King credit for his view of the dignity of all human beings?

personalistic philosophy

How does Dr. King answer his critics who say that he is “an outsider coming in”?

citizens of country = all interconnected

Does Dr. King reject the idea that African Americans should wait for justice?

yes, justice too long delayed is justice denied

What law is Dr. King incarcerated for breaking? Is this a just law?

perorating without a permit

yes

How does this quote “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” enter into King’s argument?

you can’t say “It’s not my problem” = will end up where your @

Describe King’s four basic steps of his nonviolent approach

1. Collection of facts

2. neogation

3. self-purification

4. direct action

King was criticized 2 ways for his nonviolent tactics; what were they

1. creating violence

2. pushing too hard

What does King & his associates hope to accomplish by creating “nonviolent gadflies”?

civil disobedience

What is the difference between an unjust & just law according to Dr. King?

unjust - loss of personhood

just -uplifts a person

What is the relationship between the majority & minority in these 2 types of laws?

imposed on the minority by the majority who DON’T have to follow this law

What type of law results in a loss of personhood?

unjust

Quoting St. Augustine “An unjust law is not law at all," does King say that there is aduty to obey an unjust law?

no such laws should be disobeyed

What type of moral theory is Dr. King endorsing?

natural law theory

What does Dr. King mean by negative peace?

an absence of obvious tension

Dr. King had been accused of causing violence; how does he answer this criticism?

similar to blaming the victim of a robbery

Explain King’s “Myth of Time”

irrational idea that time will heal all people

What are the types of extremism that King references?

complacency

advocates of violence

What is an error of omisson?

failing to act when should have

Who is King accusing of an error of omission?

those who are complacent

What is an error of commission?

doing what you should not do

Who is King accusing of an error of commission?

those who are endorsing violence

Does King argue that the ends justify the means? Why or why not?

no, “it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends”