Jan. 15, 1929: Birth of a Moral Compass, Even for Science
from Wired.com
1929: Martin Luther King Jr. is born. Though his work for civil rights and peace will become widely known, he will also deliver an important warning on the perils of technological amorality. King delivered a lecture at the University of Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 11, 1964, the day after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. He argued that progress in science and technology has not been equaled by “moral progress” — instead, humanity is suffering from a “moral and spiritual lag.”
At 35, King was then the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was recognized for using nonviolent methods, including civil disobedience and the boycott (as well as the power of his oratory), to fight racial segregation and advance the civil rights movement in the United States.
King, a Baptist minister who was the son of a Baptist minister, preached that material advancement was meaningless without an accompanying moral structure. A visit with Mahatma Gandhi’s family on a trip to India only reinforced this conviction, while at the same time strengthening King’s commitment to nonviolence as an instrument of change.
In his Oslo lecture, King acknowledged the advances made by science and technology, but said that growing abundance was undermining the human spirit. “The richer we have become materially, the poorer we become morally and spiritually,” he said. “We have learned to fly in the air like birds and swim in the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers.”
Placing too much value on material advantage while ignoring what he called the “spiritual lag” was a path fraught with peril, King said.
“Enlarged material powers spell enlarged peril if there is not proportionate growth of the soul. When the ‘without’ of man’s nature subjugates the ‘within,’ dark storm clouds begin to form in the world.”
King was killed by a sniper’s bullet on April 4, 1968, as he stood on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee. He had gone there to lend support to striking city garbage workers.
I like this post...It was very meaningful to me and agree very strongly with Dr. King. Especially when he stated that "The richer we have become materially, the poorer we become morally and spiritually,”. I do believe that I've seen people fallen from God's grace so many times do to there claim to fame. A great example would be Whitney Houston.
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Kendra Vance
Dr.Martin Luther King was a man of honor and respect. Who is greatly admired by me. He never stopped believing that the world was gonna change even though it seemed impossible. He was a very resilient man who overcame adversity that came his way.
ReplyDelete-Claudia Sanchez
Biology
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Leaders like Dr.King have become a great example to adolescents. Advocacy, leadership, intelligence, and morality have gone out of style. Dr. King was one in a million but hopefully someone will raise above and finish his quest for a world where all humans "live together as brothers.” Someone that will be able to guide mankind and clear the skies from the dark storm clouds that have formed.
ReplyDeleteHe stood up for what was right . & if it wasnt for him most of us probally wouldnt even be here. Hes an honorable man . & deserves all the thanks he can recieve.
ReplyDelete- Brittany Collay
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