Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

What are King's four steps to any nonviolent campaign?

1- Collection of the facts to determine whether injustices alive. 2- Negotiation. 3- Self-purification (self-reflection to make sure you don't respond violently). 4- Direct action (protests, sit-ins).

according to King, what is the ultimate goal of civil disobedience? In what sorts of situations does King think that civil disobedience is justified? How does his argument reflect some of the central ideas of Social Contract Theory?

Civil disobedience is justified if the law can be determined to be unjust. The social contract theory says that all the laws have to be equal and applied equally and that it is okay to go against them if they aren't equal. The ultimate goal is changing legislation or unjust policies/law.

How does King critique what he calls "white moderates"?

He says the white moderates fail to see that the current law and order is actually impeding justice. "We agree with basic principles, were are not racists, just stop disruptive actions to our community." King replied with "justice delays, then Justice is denied." Meaning that there is no time when justice is perfect and we've waited enough. If not now, then never. White moderates don't feel any pressure or fear from the segregation and the protests are made to shed that light to them where they see what is actually going on and how black people feel about the situation. It degrade their dignity, Kant. Treat others equally. Segregation is immoral to Kant. Treating people as things and not actual human beings.

According to King, what makes a law unjust? How do these ideas reflect some of the moral theories we've discussed in class?

Laws are unjust not just when they are in discord with moral or natural law but also when they degrade human personality. Laws can be unjust when a majority imposes a law on a minority that the majority does not impose on itself. It goes against the Social Contract because it argues that the law should be applied equally. This also goes against Kantian Ethics because it treats the minority without dignity. If there is a law that undermines someone's dignity/ intrinsic worth

How do time and tension function in King's account of civil disobedience?

Tension: non-violent protests establish "creative tension" that forces a community to confront the problems central to the protests. This pressure and tension is necessary for change, especially since the privileged groups rarely give up their privilege voluntarily. There is already tension, the civil disobedience just brings it to light. Time: waiting for the right time almost always results in inaction. There is no perfect time for change, time itself is neutral. It is not a moral agent. MLK were accused of being outside aggregators and that it is not the right time, King responds by saying once you see injustice and do nothing you are a part of the injustice. King also said that the tension is already there and they are just giving it attention to make a change.