From the early Christians to the current day protesters against the immigration bans, humans have protested against unjust laws and the wrongs done to many different people. A just law constitutes of multiple factors, each as important as the others. Just laws follow the ethical and moral instincts of the majority of people. Unfortunately, there will always be some unjust law and from that some changes need to take place.
When a person follows a law, it is for one of three reasons because they disagree, but are not encouraged to protest against it, because they honestly believe in it or because they have no idea about the law. As Mahatma Gandhi said in his autobiography The Story of my Experiments with Truth, “It is only when a person has thus obeyed the laws of society scrupulously that he is in a position to judge as to which particular rules are good and just and which are unjust and iniquitous.” After obeying the law of society, one understands the rights and wrongs of it. They are experienced enough to understand whether their morals are being contradicted. A just law can be determined by any person because the reason they follow it is because they
…show more content…
A just law can also not be in friction with other just laws. They cannot contradict each other and should be reasonable. For example, a law cannot be something random such as “When it rains, it is necessary for all citizens of Nonsenseville to wear blue and grey.” Neither does it not make sense because there should not be a restriction on how people want to express themselves nor does it have a reasonable purpose. An example in the world could be the segregation against the African Americans living in the South. It may have made sense to the Southerners because they were blinded by tradition, the use of slave was even done by our forefathers, but what was its purpose? To discriminate? Therefore, was it a just
According to James Farmer Jr.’s final argument, it is acceptable and necessary for citizens to protest unjust laws due to the equality every human being deserves. It is acceptable to fight unfair laws because everyone has the right to speak for themselves and claim what they deserve. All humans deserve the same treatment and if they are not receiving that ,they have the right to protest until they get what they want. It is even necessary to protest unjust laws because future generations will suffer
Americans are living in. He starts to talk about just and unjust laws, stating the difference between the two “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.” Most people at the time thought that if a law is in place, it is for the better of society. The idea that the brutality the police officers are inflicting on civilians who fight against systemic racism is a way to keep order, adds to Kings problems
that segregation laws must be disobeyed because they are unjust. He observes the underlying injustice of these laws, and understands that immediate action is pertinent for blacks to attain the rights granted by the Constitution. King presents a compelling argument through the use of extended allusions, an understanding of society and religion, and emotional appeal. By alluding to various philosophers and religion, King bolsters his argument that laws of the south discriminates against Blacks and must
living in. He starts to discuss just and unjust laws and states the difference between the two: “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.” Most people, at the time, thought that if a law is in place, it is for the better of society. The idea held by mostly white America that the brutality the police officers are inflicting on civilians who fight against systemic racism as a way to keep order adds
unsuccessful appeal. The state makes the argument that by defying his sentence, he would be going against The Laws of Athens. This, in turn, would be acting unjustly, or in a way that would harm the people. In breaking this legally binding agreement by leaving rather than implementing his sentence, he would be going against the unspoken social contract that he had made and had consented to for the past seventy years. If he had found anything flawed with The Laws of Athens, then he could have left the
racial violence in Alabama. Dr. King was incarcerated during this civil rights era for standing up against the Jim Crow laws. During his letter, Dr. King responded to a newspaper article arguing for change, justifying his actions, answering the statement that activists are "unwise and untimely," and injustice. To develop his argument, King uses rhetorical devices and appeals. As Dr. King develops his argument, he is able to use the interrelatedness in America to establish his credibility that he is not
a license. Martin Luther King wrote a letter while in jail in response to the clergyman saying that he no longer wanted to sit and wait to be heard. While writing his letter, Martin Luther King uses rhetorical devices, and sources to develop his argument that coming to Birmingham is not "unwise and untimely." Martin Luther King is establishing his credit. King states, "I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern
and avoid his sentence set upon him by the court. Crito presents many arguments that would be compelling to most men of his time. Socrates lays out the principles that he has chosen to live his life by and challenges Crito to convince him to leave after considering these principles. Socrates never directly tells Crito he is wrong, but he asks questions that force Crito to ascertain that he is wrong. Crito’s first set of arguments center around his friends, and the impact of Socrates choosing to accept
everywhere." (Paragraph 4). Each essay shows a valid argument for justice, but King's philosophy is more effective, because it has more logical points of views. King’s letter from a Birmingham Jail was an act of his encouragement for protest against the white’s traditions in which were unjust. King, a leader of civil rights groups was against traditional views; King encouraged protesting against tradition and established laws that are unjust. In his letter from Birmingham Jail King states, “Even
right to break unjust laws that the government up holds for the public. Although some are more radical than others, each thinker asses their idea in a different way. Thoreau and King both believe that the best way to rid an unjust law is by performing acts of civil disobedience. Goldman on the other hand, believes in complete obliteration of the government thus becoming a state of anarchism. All three thinkers have made it clear in their arguments that it is justified to break an unjust law. In his essay
claim that his non-violent campaign is “unjust or untimely” II. Body: Contradiction I. Rejecting the claim that he is an outsider that doesn’t belong in Birmingham a) He was asked to participate in Birmingham. b) He has organizational affiliation in Birmingham II. It is his duty to fight injustice anywhere within the United States a) Prophets in eight century BCE traveled for their cause b) Apostle Paul left Tarsus to preach the gospel III. Argues against the idea that direct action is “unwise”
Justice is Dying The debate between Just and Unjust Speech highlights the ongoing debate between old and new traditions. These traditions can range from how to interpret laws to family values and the struggle between them is highlighted in Aristophanes Clouds. The battle between old and new is seen in argument between Just and Unjust Speech and the arguments between father Strepsiades and son Pheidippides. The constant battle between old and new is seen in many different areas throughout the Clouds
in order to raise money to start a war in Mexico and to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law (Furtak, 2005). In my understanding civil disobedience refers to the refusal to follow certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, in a non-violent form of political protest. Any individual out there will find a law in which they don’t wish to agree with, it could be for personal reasons, religious reasons, or it may just go against their beliefs. Thus it is unethical to stop someone from expressing his or her beliefs
his good friend Crito, as Crito comes to help Socrates escape to exile. In his account of the conversation, Plato describes Socrates’ struggle on whether or not it is just to escape, as he works up to his conclusion that in the end it is unjust and violates the laws of Athens. When Crito first hears of Socrates’ intentions to stay, he argues with Socrates that he must leave. Crito states that if Socrates doesn’t leave, not only will he lose a dear friend, but people will also get the wrong conception
Perceptions of Morality: What is REALLY Right or Wrong? What if I told you that everything you did was wrong? Well, C.S. Lewis would probably say that the differences between right and wrong are truly up to the Law of Nature, while Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would most likely bring up the point that only God could judge what is right and wrong. The concept of “right” vs. “wrong” is one that is debated a great deal in literature, particularly Lewis’ Mere Christianity and Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham