Unjust Laws - 1747 Words

Are we morally obliged to obey even unjust laws? Think about what this means. This means that laws, regardless of how unfair, unjust, or immoral they may be, must be followed with no better reason that they are the law. To the thesis that we are obliged to obey even unjust laws, I will argue that the standard objections to Civil Disobedience, given by Singer, are incorrect To begin, however, I believe it is necessary to define an unjust law. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. (King, 3) According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority compels a minority group to obey, but does not make†¦show more content†¦Socrates was agreeing with Dr. Kings stance on Civil Disobedience. Socrates did not do an injustice by disobeying a law. In fact, Socrates did the law the utmost justice. King says, I submit 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. (King, 4) Socrates was not exchanging the injustice of escape for the injustice of his death sentence, regardless of what he would suffer. Socrates was showing the utmost respect for the law, while still showing it was wrong. He willingly took the punishment deemed necessary, and effectively made himself a martyr to his cause. King also says, One has not only a legal, but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. It seems I have arrived at the same conclusion King has. It is not only moral, but a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws. In fact, it seems King uses something similar in meaning to Kants Categorical Imperative. Kings quote, as I stated earlier, is, An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey, but does not make binding on itself. (King, 4) Kants Categorical Imperative says, Act only on the maxim through which you could at the same time will that itShow MoreRelatedEssay Just and Unjust Laws: Should the Unjust Laws be Obeyed?751 Words   |  4 PagesOne has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. Martin Luther Kings words, which just correspond with the above assertion, perfectly tell u s what to do in face of laws, either just or unjust. To be sure, modern laws are made to express the general will, a will that aims at the common good. This means that laws in most cases intend to protect every social member’s rights under the principle of justice andRead MoreThe Laws That Are Unjust, They Disobey Essay1454 Words   |  6 PagesIf you have to disobey the laws that are unjust, they disobey Mahatma Gandhi said that when a law is unjust, right is disobedience. Anyway, before adhering or reject the proposal I suggest to consider some important implications in historical context, since without it could happen, for example, that a radical reasoning would lead us to a simplistic resolution: smash everything and return to the old stone, as proposed by the primitivism anarchism. Comically simplistic reasoning could lead to radicalizeRead MoreWhat Does It Take? An Unjust Law?2068 Words   |  9 PagesWhat does it take to change an unjust law? There are plenty of times where a law that has been imposed on society is less than just, or set up by those with a specific agenda to hinder a certain group of people. 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