The Liberatory Thought of Martin Luther King Jr.

Edited by Robert E. Birt

The Liberatory Philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. is a philosophical anthology which explores Dr. King's legacy as a philosopher and his contemporary relevance as a thinker-activist. It consists of sixteen chapters organized into four sections: Part I, King within Philosophical Traditions, Part II, King as Engaged Social and Political Philosopher, Part III, King's Ethics of Nonviolence, and Part IV, Hope Resurgent or Dream Deferred: Perplexities of King's Philosophical Optimism. Most chapters are written by philosophers, but two are by philosophically informed social scientists. The contributors examine King's relationships to canonical Western philosophical traditions, and to African-American thought. King's contribution to traditional branches of philosophy such as ethics, social philosophy and philosophy of religion is explored, as well as his relevance to contemporary movements for social justice. As is evident from the title, the book considers the importance of King's thought as liberatory discourse. Some chapters focus on "topical" issues like the relevance of King's moral critique of the Vietnam War to our present involvement in Middle Eastern wars. Others focus on more densely theoretical issues such as Personalism, existential philosophy or Hegelian dialectics in King's thought. The significance of King's reflections on racism, economic justice, democracy and the quest for community are abiding themes. But the volume closes, quite fittingly, on the importance of the theme of hope. The text is a kind of philosophical dialogue on the enduring value of the legacy of the philosopher, King.

Part I. King within Philosophical TraditionsChapter 1: Is Our Belief that Martin Luther King, Jr. is a Black Philosopher Justified?John McClendonChapter 2: Dr. King's Philosophy of Religion: A Theology of SomebodinessGeorge YancyChapter 3: Dr. King as Liberation Theologian and Existential PhilosopherJames B. Haile, IIIChapter 4: King as Philosopher: An examination of the Influences of Hegelian Dialectics on King's Political Thought and PracticeStephen C. FergusonChapter 5: Martin Luther King, Jr. as a Social Movement Intellectual: Trailblazer or Torchbearer?Maurice St. PierrePart II. King as Engaged Social and Political PhilosopherChapter 6: The Struggle for Loving Communities: Martin Luther King, Jr.s Agape and World HouseRichard A. JonesChapter 7: King's Radical Vision of CommunityRobert E. BirtChapter 8: Martin Luther King, Jr.: Toward a Democratic TheoryTim LakePart III. King's Ethics of NonviolenceChapter 9: Ethics as First Philosophy: King, Levinas and the Praxis of PeaceMaria del Guadalupe Davison & Dr. Scott DavidsonChapter 10: Martin Luther King on Vietnam: King's Message Applied to the US Occupation of Iraq and AfghanistanGail PresbeyChapter 11: Martin Luther King and Frantz Fanon: Reflections on the Politics and Ethics of Violence and NonviolenceKathryn GinesChapter 12: A Shocking Gap Made Visible: King's Pacifist Materialism and the Method of Nonviolent ChangeGreg MosesChapter 13: Socrates, Gandhi and King: Politics of Civil Disobedience and the Ethics of Nonviolent ActionBenjamin ArahPart IV. Hope Resurgent or Dream Deferred: Perplexities of King's Philosophical OptimismChapter 14: Hope and Disappointment in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Political Theology: Eclipse of the Liberal SpiritFloyd Hayes IIIChapter 15: The Aporia of Hope: King and Bell on the Ending of RacismBill LawsonChapter 16: The Concept of Hope in the Thinking of Martin Luther King, Jr.C.W. Dawson