Question
As you continue to read “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” consider the themes and concepts presented.
“You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws. One may want to ask: ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that ‘an unjust law is no law at all.’
Now, what is the difference between the two? How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.”
Which quote from the letter do you think addresses the concept of civil disobedience?
Question 3 options:
"One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
"A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God."
"How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?"
"You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws."
“You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws. One may want to ask: ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that ‘an unjust law is no law at all.’
Now, what is the difference between the two? How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.”
Which quote from the letter do you think addresses the concept of civil disobedience?
Question 3 options:
"One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
"A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God."
"How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?"
"You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws."
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The quote that most directly addresses the concept of civil disobedience is:
"One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
This statement encapsulates the core idea of civil disobedience, which is the active, nonviolent refusal to comply with laws that are considered unjust.
"One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
This statement encapsulates the core idea of civil disobedience, which is the active, nonviolent refusal to comply with laws that are considered unjust.