Comparing The Philosophies Of Gandhi And Martin Luther King Jr.

The Nonviolence Coefficient It's hard to discuss concepts of civil disobedience or even of peace without eventually arriving at the names Mohandas K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. After all, both men fought daunting battles and won great liberties while condemning violence. It's hard to argue that both men ultimately subscribed to the same core beliefs. They both placed great value on human life and freedom, and both felt that nonviolent protest was the strongest way to bring about change. Upon closer inspection, one notices some subtle differences in their respective approaches to social issues. The cause for these differences is merely a matter of function. While Gandhi strove to craft a philosophy that would be all-encompassing, King provided specific, functional advice for those who followed him. Although both men spoke about similar issues, they each filled distinct roles in preaching …show more content…
Although nonviolence and physics seem like strange bedfellows, we can draw definitive parallels with the divergent philosophies of Gandhi and King. There are two distinct camps in physics. On one hand, you have Theoretical Physics. This is the field that constructs theories based on observation, in an attempt to better understand our world. Gandhi would feel right at home with these folks. His home-brewed philosophy of Satyagraha is meant as a universal law that should govern all actions. Martin Luther King, on the other hand, would belong to the other camp: Practical Physics (sometimes referred to as Experimental Physics). This field is charged with conceiving real world experiments and applications that will test the predictions and assertions made by theoretical physicists. King's application of Gandhi's philosophy and biblical teachings serve as the backbone for his "Direct Action". Much like the physicists they align with, Gandhi and King are merely two sides to the same