The arc of the moral universe

[cali]

I don't know that the "arc of the moral universe bends toward justice." I'm not even sure that it's an arc. From where I stand, it's more like a sideways figure 8- the infinity symbol- ever looping back on itself.

That phrase is commonly attributed wrongly to Martin Luther King, but it was originally expressed by a Unitarian minister, Theodore Parker, in an essay in 1857 in reference to the scourge of slavery.

"Look at the facts of the world. You see a continual and progressive triumph of the right. I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.

Things refuse to be mismanaged long. Jefferson trembled when he thought of slavery and remembered that God is just. Ere long all America will tremble."

Dr. King when he spoke of the arc of the moral universe, put the phrase in quotes signifying that he was not the originator of it, but people persist in attributing it to him, including President Obama.

It's a nice, wholesome, encouraging sentiment but I'd never say it to a victim of injustice. Tell it to those who are starving, raped or beaten, caught in war torn countries, exterminated, tortured. It's cold comfort.

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Something to keep one going. That's its value. No more , no less.

Let's hope it's true.

There's plenty of evidence on both sides of the question, seems to me.

[merrily]

2. It once seemed that the arc of the universe bent toward justice, albeit every so slowly sometimes.

Child labor laws, laws about overtime and time off, minimum wage, universal suffrage, welfare, OASDI, Medicare, the Civil Rights Act and the end of (official) discrimination in our military. All liberal ideas.

But, like the New Deal and the Great Society, a lot of those things have been taken away.

[Louisiana1976]

3. If Jefferson "trembled when he thought of slavery"

why did he keep slaves?

[nomorenomore08]

6. Perhaps because he was economically dependent on having them? Which isn't a very good excuse

of course, I'm just speculating here.

[reformist2]

4. What a horrible analogy - I don't believe things just work themselves out in the end.

If indeed there is a rainbow arc bending toward justice, I would argue someone had to bend it there, and we have to keep bending it!

[nomorenomore08]

7. Who specifically said it didn't involve human effort? Humans are part of the "universe," aren't we?

[reformist2]

9. Good point. But I've never really gotten the idea about justice being an arc, anyway. It's odd.

[nomorenomore08]

10. It does involve a greater implicit optimism than I'm usually willing to grant, admittedly.

But even being pessimistic by nature, I don't dismiss the possibility of individual or collective improvement.

[Bluenorthwest]

18. Chomsky:

"Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, it’s unlikely you will step up and take responsibility for making it so. If you assume that there’s no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, there are opportunities to change things, there’s a chance you may contribute to making a better world. The choice is yours.”

[nomorenomore08]

19. Very well stated. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Sure. Because there is no end.

The end is always a new beginning.

[Jim Lane]

16. Parker certainly didn't mean it as a call to complacency.

The life of Theodore Parker makes clear that he'd be horrified at any such interpretation. From his Wikipedia bio:

In Boston, Parker led the movement to combat the stricter Fugitive Slave Act enacted with the Compromise of 1850. It required law enforcement and citizens of all states- free states as well as slave states- to assist in the recovery of fugitive slaves. Parker called the law "a hateful statute of kidnappers", and helped organize open resistance to it in Boston. Parker and his followers formed the Committee of Vigilance, refusing to assist with the recovery of fugitive slaves, and helping to hide them.[11] For example, they smuggled away Ellen and William Craft when Georgian slave catchers came to Boston to arrest them. Due to Parker's effort, from 1850 to the onset of the American Civil War in 1861, only twice were slaves captured in Boston and transported back to the South. On both occasions, Bostonians combatted the actions with mass protests.[12]

Instead, Parker meant his words as encouragement to progressive activists. No matter how bad things look at the moment, we should continue to fight, because our side will prevail.

After all Parker's work for abolition, he died in 1860. He didn't live to see the Emancipation Proclamation or the Thirteenth Amendment. I'm sure he would say that it didn't matter. He was on the right side of history, and he did all he could to bend that arc. He would certainly agree with you that we have to keep bending it.

[pinto]

5. I wouldn't mention it as some kind of comfort to any victim. Yet I would to the general public,

a politician, an organization, a nation. A good reminder and one I believe has merit.

[nomorenomore08]

8. Justice is still dependent on human effort, of course. It doesn't just happen by fate. n/t

[cali]

17. that's a very good observation

[2banon]

11. Cold Comfort, Indeed!

Very nicely put, cali.

It's a nice, wholesome, encouraging sentiment but I'd never say it to a victim of injustice. Tell it to those who are starving, raped or beaten, caught in war torn countries, exterminated, tortured. It's cold comfort.

[bvar22]

12. Thank You, cali.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
---Edmund Burke

Leaving it Up to the Arc
can be a rationalization for inaction.

[cali]

13. hey bvar, how are you?

[panader0]

15. All things are headed for fruition

It's not an arc, or a pendulum or a figure eight,
It's a spiral, a revolution that progresses as it turns.
Maybe...