How does King develop his claim that “€œone has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws”?

King acknowledges the differences between “just and unjust” laws. He insists that everyone has a “legal” and “moral responsibility” to follow just laws, but that one equally “has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (174). He cites St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas to justify this claim.

King also provides definitions to help us distinguish between just and unjust laws. A just law conforms to the “moral law or the law of God,” while an unjust law is “out of harmony with the moral law.” He further defines a just law, as one which “uplifts human personality,” while unjust law “degrades human personality.” He insists that unjust laws punish not only the segregated, but also the segregator. Citing Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, Dr. King notes that segregation turns people to “things,” and hence degrades all personality (175).