Jasmine Boykin 3 December 2013 Ethics

Socrates and Martin Luther King Jr.

In todays society the actions that Martin Luther King Jr. and Socrates took on their unjust situations are consider to be a brave and noble action. Although they were both sentence to jail and eventually died because of their beliefs and view on certain issues, people still carry out their positions today. Socrates, a man of wisdom and of reason wanted us to obey all rules that were made by law even if they seem to be unjust. Martin Luther king Jr., a man of wisdom and equality wanted us to obey all rules that were fair and just and disregard the rules that were made unjust. Both men had their reasons on why we should and shouldnt obey unjust laws, but Martin Luther King Jr. position on this was more convincing to me. In the famous Letter from the Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King Jr. expressed his position on unjust laws and just laws. He believed in non-violent movements but did what it took to shine the light on unjust situations. Martin Luther King Jr. stated that There are just laws and there are unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that an unjust law is no law at all.. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, loving, and with willingness to accept the penalty. He demonstrates this by accepting the penalty that was assigned to him for doing what he considered to be the right thing. Although he believed in obeying just laws, he did not

believe in following unjust laws and taught others the same. He believed that one has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws but conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I consider this to be more convincing than Socrates because everyone wants to be treated equally. I believe that no law should be made for or against any race. Socratess position is one that many would believe to be morally right because he believes in doing the right thing in every situation. While in prison Socrates tells his position on just and unjust laws and how we should go about things. He states that we should do no wrong, injure no one at all, to not retaliate or render evil for evil to anyone, and ought to do what he thinks is right. He also believes that we should obey all laws made unjust and just. He demonstrates his beliefs while he is in jail. Socrates is in jail due to an unjust situation. Instead of him fighting back, Socrates allows them to sentence him to death for something he did not do. His position is almost like the one the Lord has command his believers to take on. Although Socrates made some valid points, I have to disagree with following unjust laws. Socrates did not believe in unjust law but he seems to follow them without speaking out unlike like Martin Luther King Jr. As Martin Luther King Jr would say A Unjust law is no law at all. To me laws are to be made equally. If a law is not made equally than it should not be allowed, and no one should be penalized if they do not follow it. Although both man had their differences on following just and unjust law they both believed in non-violence. They believed and taught that it was not okay to retaliate against people who did wrong towards them. They believe that it was not okay to injure people or to disobey just laws. The just laws that were made were to be followed legally and morally. They

also believed only in the opinion of wise and knowledgeable people. I believe both men were committed and wanted to do right by a certain group. Socrates wanted to obey the agreement that he had with Athenians even though he was faced with an unjust situation and Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to do right by the law but they were unjust. He wanted him and his people to be treated equally. Even though both men were sentence to jail for a period of time, both men are considered to have paved the way for many. As you can see I favor Martin Luther King Jrs position on unjust and just laws more than I did Socratess. Unjust laws are no laws at all. We should speak out if we are being punished by or for unjust laws. Both men make very good points in their writings. We should never try to retaliate against those who wrong us and only do what we think is right. We should follow all laws. I guess that is why Socrates let them sentence him to death and not flee. He agreed to what his city had contracted out and lived up to it even through being killed unjustified. Both men are incredible. Their legacy lives on today as well as their teachings being taught all over the world.