Rhetorical Devices In Letter From Birmingham Jail

In King’s essay, “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, King brilliantly employs the use of several strategies that are pivotal in successfully influencing critics of his philosophical views on civil disobedience. In the letter, King expresses his extreme disappointment over the criticism of his leadership by Alabama clergymen, his understanding of why oppressed people must resist their oppression, and his deep faith in the fundamental decency of all Americans. King implements idea from philosophers, such as Socrates, to make his dissertation.

King begins with differentiating between just and unjust laws. He states that a just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral code, while an unjust law is out of harmony with the moral code. He states

Plato philosophies were tailored from the mentorship from Socrates where he was one of the esteemed student reflecting Socrates ideologies. Both King and Plato drove at demolition and revealing the social injustices as viewed from King’s letter while held custody in Birmingham. Dr. King wrote this letter to counter the critic ideologies that nullified his nonviolent movements in this region by the clergymen. Besides, in Plato’s Crito, he detests Socrates fleeing away from his term thus to save his skin which has been replicated in King’s letter and actions. Both are enthusiastic about ending injustices.

Descartes believed in ethics and especially moral standards that uphold the free will of others. King dislikes the mandated racist laws only adjusted by the oppressors. Both philosophers respect equality that enhances the self in humans through which King argues that the blacks should be allowed to say what they truly believe. King detests the unjust man-made laws that infringe on God’s free given rights that Descartes presents on his metaphysics abstract

This is showcased in King’s Letter where he abhors the current critics of racist laws that appears different in practice. For example, Mill argues that people should live in an enhanced environment that supports free will, which leads to free thinking. Besides, King instills hope on the people to abolish unfavorable laws that deter personal growth resulting to a state oblivion that brings about minority groups. Therefore, King’s letter incorporates Mill’s approaches through which both philosophers value liberty that begin from the free