Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Modernity
Keywords:
Martin Luther King, Jr., Modernity, Ghandhi, Wendell BerryAbstract
Modernity and its attributes, such as scientific rationalism, technological development, economic growth, the spread of education, mechanization, industrialization and urbanization, define our society today. In recent years, critiques of modernity, such as those advanced by the environmental movement and the organic and local food movements, have brought questions about the ethics of modernity to the forefront of public attention. This paper seeks to interject Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s point of view into this discussion. First, King’s views on modernity are contrasted with those of Mahatma Gandhi. Then, some of the underlying values that shaped King’s views are discussed. Finally, an attempt is made to situate King’s views within the contemporary American public conversation about modernity by comparing his views with those of Wendell Berry, a prominent American voice in this debate.
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References
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