King Vs. Socrates

1 Pages 313 Words

The relationship between Socrates and Martin Luther King

The similarities between Martin Luther King and Socrates are so close that it’s hard to imagine that either could have come up with their ideas alone. I believe as King quoted Socrates with, “…it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal… to the majestic heights of understanding,” King stemmed his beliefs and strong arguments from ideas of fellow extremists.
When reading King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail the first thing that came to mind was how closely related Socrates and King’s argument are about “the willingness of accepting the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice,” as quoted by King. Is not the above quote what was the whole basis of Socrates argument in Plato’s Crito? Of course it was, the whole reason King couldn’t decide to escape from jail is because, “I would rather die having spoken after my manner than speak in your manner and live.” Socrates explains that “it is not possible that a bad man should injure someone better than himself.” While King says something of similar meaning with, “they have gone with the faith that right defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.” Socrates speaks of living a life in jail for what he believes of expanding the minds of Athenians to treasure “ the improvement of the soul” while King’s beliefs reflect the same idea with, “the willingness to go to jail for conscience’s sake.”
Would Socrates agree with King’s arguments? Without a doubt I would say Socrates would definitely understand King’s points and completely understand the need for direct and strong measures taken to stand for what the African Americans believe they needed to do for a “just cause.”...