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 work is rooted in ethical and philosophical discussions of law (eternal, natural, human law). King's allusion to Aquinas's definition of unjust law ties to ethical considerations of what makes a law just/unjust. The option "to encourage a consideration of ethics" aligns because the allusion prompts reflection on the ethical basis of laws, while other options (appealing to duty, historical precedent, commemorating a leader) don't fit: the allusion isn't about duty, isn't a historical precedent in action, and isn't commemorating a leader (Aquinas is a theologian/philosopher, and the allusion is for ethical framing of law).

Answer:

to encourage a consideration of ethics