Oughtness & Dr. King - A Day To Introspect
Honoring The Man
Every year, when we look to the calendar and see that it is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a rapid stream of thoughts passes through our mind, reflecting on certain iconic images, speeches, and historic moments. Or, we need the changing Google homepage banner, Op-ed pieces from notable magazines, and other technological reminders to make us contemplate certain minutiae from a life that was so well documented. Regardless, it seems as if this year, his life and character are ever so prevalent.
In 1964, he was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, but like few recipients, he spoke about the continuous struggle, internationally, for a world united, not divided based on race, caste, creed, and gender.
In the West, particularly in the United States, rarely had there been movements ignited by the spark of noncooperation and nonviolence. If one is often highlighted, it is the revolution of ‘transcendentalists,’ Emerson and Thoreau, avid proponents of the philosophy of ancient Eastern cultures. At a national level, Dr. King sparked a revolution by taking inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s mass noncooperation in the Indian freedom struggle against the British crown.
In this speech, he echoed the importance of defeating a world ridden with physical and subtle violence with compassion. “I refuse to accept the idea that the ‘isness’ of man’s present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal ‘oughtness’ that forever confronts him” When looking deeper at this profound statement, we can see the roots of the immovable nonviolence he strived to embody.
The Root of His Philosophy
The basis of the Indian nonviolent independence struggle is founded in a Sanskrit word, Ahimsa, often seen in many Eastern philosophical texts. In fact, it is a pillar not only in the attainment of the seemingly esoteric goal of Yoga, but also in the ethics of Buddhism. The foundation for many Eastern schools of thought, Ahimsa not only asserts the restriction of harm to another persona, animal, or ecosystem, but requires compassion as the basis of this ethical decision. In other words, nonviolence is applicable only through love, as that experience alone consistently restricts a tendency to harm and abuse.
The practice of such an ethical construct is the result of consistent actions shaping a habit - a behavioral shift. Gandhi, engrossing himself in the study of Indian and Western philosophical treatises, was attracted to this idea of Ahimsa. If it is an outlook of compassion towards all, why can it not be the foundation of a political and social movement?
Dr. King was moved by the influence of a revolution against oppression that was inspired by empathy. While it seems almost unintuitive, eradicating violence through its opposite, it is the promising path forward, as it forms the bedrock for future generations.
The above mentioned ‘is-ness’ is our current state and worldview. Externally, we are rich, poor, white, black, brown, tall, short, etc. In contrast, King highlights our nature as the state of our is-ness - our likes, dislikes, perspective, strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies. This nature of ours, often tribal and selfish, is what King is claiming cannot restrict our moral capability.
He led a movement whose means and ends were both bound by the vision of an unified, compassionate world: he protested and fought without harm to any, to bring about a world that would potentially harm none.
But, the struggle of most in cognizing this approach lies in the means. Most would agree to a world that loves and accomplishes peace amongst different tribes, but the audacity lies in the means. A path of most resistance, one that requires a discipline of inaction and acceptance of the opposition.
The Reality We Live In
Today, not only is the world overtaken by a pandemic, but a deeper, entrenched pandemic has divided seemingly the most developed countries in the world, through racial and wealth inequities. Whether it is sanctioned violence against a group of people or designed lack of opportunity, a culture is created, in which your external is-ness (race, wealth, social capital) determines your worth. Students, parents, the elderly, and growing children are all experiencing this potpourri of conflicts.
While the consumption and realization of these issues continues, it is often unknown to us how our opinions and views are formed. Only when we deeply reflect on how our worldview is shifting, progressing, or reverting, do we recognize the faults in our reasoning. In other words, we succumb to our is-ness when this reflection pauses.
The incapability to surpass our tendencies to decide how we ought to be is exactly the result that Dr. King refuses to accept. In order for one to overcome our nature and identification with is-ness, one must actively reflect on the current state of the world and personal outlook.
Then only can the ought-ness of one’s behavior become a lived reality. King’s dream of a world, in which an individual is judged by the content of character, is possible when each person takes on the gargantuan task of achieving this ought-ness through continuous introspection and effort. Often, the concentration towards external solutions (e.g. policy, wealth management, etc.) seem to be the highlight and justifiably so, but the deeper, long-term resolve lies in a personal shift in worldview.
On this day, the world looks back at the legacy of a man whose words and actions were his message. Inspired by the philosophy of Ahimsa and the noncooperation movement led by Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King embodied an internal change from one’s is-ness to a lived ought-ness.
Celebration of King’s National Day of Service is given justice when the citizens contemplate deeply about is-ness and a transformation to ought-ness. Then only do we commemorate the man and movement.
Otherwise, the moral incapability of humanity is confirmed, in contrast to King’s faith.