, LJU4801 May June Portfolio (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 1 2026 - DUE 1 June 2026
QUESTION 1
Introduction
The legal-philosophical approach advocated by Martin Luther King Jr. in his
“Letter from Birmingham Jail” is the Natural Law Theory. In the quotation, King
distinguishes between “just” and “unjust” laws and argues that people have a moral
duty to obey just laws while unjust laws may morally be disobeyed. This reflects
the central idea of natural law, namely that law is closely connected to morality
and justice. According to this approach, a law that is unjust or immoral is not
regarded as a true law in the fullest sense.
Natural law theory developed over many centuries through the contributions of
Greek philosophers, Roman thinkers, Christian theologians and modern
philosophers. The theory eventually influenced modern constitutionalism, human
rights and democratic legal systems across the world.
1. Meaning of Natural Law Theory
Natural law theory is a legal-philosophical approach which holds that law must be
based on moral principles, justice and human reason. It teaches that there are
universal moral rules which exist independently from human-made laws. These
moral principles can be discovered through reason, nature or divine authority.
According to natural law theorists, a law is only valid if it is morally just. If a law
violates morality, fairness or human dignity, people may have a moral right or even
a moral obligation to resist or disobey it.
This is exactly the position taken by Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights
Movement in the United States. King believed that laws enforcing racial
segregation were unjust because they violated human equality and dignity.
Although segregation laws were legally enacted by the state, he argued that they
lacked moral legitimacy.
Semester 1 2026 - DUE 1 June 2026
QUESTION 1
Introduction
The legal-philosophical approach advocated by Martin Luther King Jr. in his
“Letter from Birmingham Jail” is the Natural Law Theory. In the quotation, King
distinguishes between “just” and “unjust” laws and argues that people have a moral
duty to obey just laws while unjust laws may morally be disobeyed. This reflects
the central idea of natural law, namely that law is closely connected to morality
and justice. According to this approach, a law that is unjust or immoral is not
regarded as a true law in the fullest sense.
Natural law theory developed over many centuries through the contributions of
Greek philosophers, Roman thinkers, Christian theologians and modern
philosophers. The theory eventually influenced modern constitutionalism, human
rights and democratic legal systems across the world.
1. Meaning of Natural Law Theory
Natural law theory is a legal-philosophical approach which holds that law must be
based on moral principles, justice and human reason. It teaches that there are
universal moral rules which exist independently from human-made laws. These
moral principles can be discovered through reason, nature or divine authority.
According to natural law theorists, a law is only valid if it is morally just. If a law
violates morality, fairness or human dignity, people may have a moral right or even
a moral obligation to resist or disobey it.
This is exactly the position taken by Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights
Movement in the United States. King believed that laws enforcing racial
segregation were unjust because they violated human equality and dignity.
Although segregation laws were legally enacted by the state, he argued that they
lacked moral legitimacy.
