How King Shows Socrates’ Influence on Him

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of the law. Though there are kinds of unfair laws and he wants to break those laws, instead if escaping, King choose to accept legal sanctions. He knows that respecting the law is the only way to break the unfair laws. Comparing those two people, they all have the respect for the laws. No matter how unfair the laws are, both King and Socrates doesn’t evade. Their observance of the law shows Socrates’ influence on King.

King has the similar attitudes toward truth with Socrates, because though their actions haven’t been received the approval of the world, they stick to their pursuit. When Alain de Botton wants to show Socrates’ unswerving belief in the pursuit of truth, he quotes him as saying, “So long as I have breath and have my faculties, I shall never stop practicing philosophy and exhorting you and elucidating the truth for everyone that I meet...And so gentlemen...whether you acquit me or nor, you know that I am not going to alter my conduct, not even if I have to die a hundred deaths.” This example shows that Socrates’s hopeless feelings about the authorities cover truth. By those words, he also expresses his spirit that he will never give up those ignorant people. To Socrates, nothing is more important than finding truth. Even though he is condemned by others, he will never give up his choice. According to King’s letter, King also shows his determination to find the truth. When he mentions the challenges that he faces about the church, King says, “But even if the church does not come to the aid of justice, I have no despair about the future. I have no fear about the outcome of our struggle in Birmingham, even if our motives are at present misunderstood.” This example is important for us to understand King’s attitude toward truth. When the church renounced the doctrine because if the law and ignore the injustice, King still insists on the pursuit of justice. Though there will be kinds of difficulties, he would never give up. Nothing can stop King’s pace of finding truth. Comparing those two people, they all can insist on their own choices without influenced by others’ words. For everyone, it is very important to keep your own choice. The attitude toward truth and the spirit of never giving up is one of the parts that King shows he is influenced by Socrates.

In conclusion, in the letter, Matin Luther King successfully shows that Socrates has an influence on him by pointing the similar experience, showing the similar observance of the law, and by showing the similar insistence on truth. Compared with Socrates, Martin not only has the unfair experience which is similar as Socrates’, but also has the same attitude to respect the laws. What’s more, Martin has the courage to dedicate himself to his own goal without controlling by others. Actually, Socrates is very important for the Philosophy, Martin is important, too. Knowing how to use the Socratic method of thinking is of vital importance in your life. The person who pay attention to the pursuit of his own heart will never fail. So, no matter who you are, go and find the true meaning of Socratic method of thinking!