Martin Luther King Crito Analysis

Questionable Laws & People In the article's of "Crito," by Plato, and "Letter from Birmingham Jail," by Martin Luther King, Jr., two writers make a case over whether it is moral or not to disobey laws. The question to be answered in our final paper asks whether we agree with what the Laws say about if Socrates was to escape and why we feel that way. It also asks how we think Martin Luther King would have responded to the judgment of the Laws of Athens. In this paper, I will address these questions as well as do a quick overview of each article. In "Crito," Plato uses Socrates as a tool to argue the point. Socrates is in jail for "preaching false gods" and "corrupting the youth" by causing them to doubt or disregard the wisdom of their
This statement was in response to his participation in a non-violent campaign march in a town that still had many problems with segregation. He explains that he was asked there because of organizational ties, and that he was there because of injustice. He also brings up that the demonstrations were in response to a meeting they had previous with city leaders where promises were made and then broken. He goes on to explain the situation and the need for direct action so that it can lead to negotiation. He also brings up an idea that there is a difference in laws and how they are used. This difference is referred to as "just" and "unjust." Laws are unjust depending on if they restrict people unfairly, or if man uses them to restrict other people unfairly. He gives blame to the white moderate who is happy living with a negative peace and not willing to have the disorder to gain a positive peacefulness. He gives examples of injustices in the past, such as Christians being willing to face hungry lions versus submitting to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire. He says that society must, "protect the robbed and punish the robber." He also brings up the example that what Adolf Hitler did in Germany was legal at the time. Just because it was legal, didn't
had to respond to the judgement of the Laws of Athens, I think he would bring up his point that not all laws are "just" laws. He believes that there are two types of laws, just and unjust. He, like Socrates, feels that there is a moral obligation to obeying just laws. However, he also believes that people have a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws. With this, he quotes St. Augustine with, "An unjust law is no law at all." King goes on to explain that a just law is a law that uplifts human personality and it squares with moral law. In addition, an unjust law is a law that degrades human personality and is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. An easier way to view this is that a just law is a law that a group who enacts it will not mind following itself. On the contrary, an unjust law is a law that the group that enacts it would not want required on them. Another problem with just and unjust laws would be a law that is inflicted on a group who could not vote on it. King questions whether a law enacted under such circumstances be considered democratically structured. King's opinion is that "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." I feel that there he agrees with Socrates. Socrates sat in jail and then drank