Question

read the excerpt from dr. martin luther kings \letter from birmingham jail.\
to put it in the terms of st. thomas aquinas: an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. any law that uplifts human personality is just.
why does king use this allusion?
○ to appeal to his critics’ sense of duty
○ to describe an historical precedent
○ to commemorate a famous leader
○ to encourage a consideration of ethics

Explanation:

St. Thomas Aquinas's framework of eternal/natural law is an ethical foundation. King uses this allusion to frame just/unjust laws through an ethical lens, prompting his audience to evaluate laws based on moral and ethical standards rather than just legal technicalities. The other options do not fit: his critics were religious/legal figures, and this is not about duty appeal, historical precedent, or commemorating a leader.

Answer:

to encourage a consideration of ethics