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Informationen zum Autor Robert E. Birt is assistant professor of philosophy at Bowie State University. Klappentext 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. Zusammenfassung This volume examines the philosophical thought of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and is an assessment of King’s contribution to philosophy—especially ethics, social philosophy and philosophy of religion. It also explores the relevance of King’s thoughts as “liberatory discourse”—insurgent thinking aimed at enabling contemporary social justice. Inhaltsverzeichnis Part I. King within Philosophical Traditions Chapter 1: Is Our Belief that Martin Luther King, Jr. is a Black Philosopher Justified? John McClendon Chapter 2: Dr. King's Philosophy of Religion: A Theology of Somebodiness George Yancy Chapter 3: Dr. King as Liberation Theologian and Existential Philosopher James B. Haile, III Chapter 4: King as Philosopher: An examination of the Influences of Hegelian Dialectics on King's Political Thought and Practice Stephen C. Ferguson Chapter 5: Martin Luther King, Jr. as a Social Movement Intellectual: Trailblazer or Torchbearer? Maurice St. Pierre Part II. King as Engaged Social and Political Philosopher Chapter 6: The Struggle for Loving Communities: Martin Luther King, Jr.s Agape and World House Richard A. Jones Chapter 7: King's Radical Vision of Community Robert E. Birt Chapter 8: Martin Luther King, Jr.: Toward a Democratic Theory Tim Lake Part III. King's Ethics of Nonviolence Chapter 9: Ethics as First Philosophy: King, Levinas and the Praxis of ...
