Prompt 2

In regards to the natural state of the world, the vast majority of living beings, and specificially humans, communitites are always formed in order to provide for the greater good of the individuals who make up that community. Communities are able to provide a support network for its population that are managed in a just and moral way to always care for and protect its individuals. In the case of Martin Luther King Jr. and specifically in the case of his Letter from Birmingham Jail he outlines the expectations that individuals owe to their communites and vice versa, and how both need to act in moral ways.
In a complex and modern world that King was living in at the time, there are many levels of communities that any individual can be a part of, but while some levels of community might have more personal influences to the individual it's the responsibility of the community to treat its population justly while the individual must put forth a constant effort to maintaining the morality of the community. King said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds." While King was a member for the African American community he was also a part of the Atlanta community, the Southern community and that overall community of the United States. King puts forth a consistent effort into all of these arenas so that they may all be ruled justly, as is the responsibility of any individual. While many individuals may think the most they need put forth is to conduct their own lives morally it's hipocritical for them to not defend against immoral acts within any community they're a part of. If they didn't act to promote morality in their own lives as well as their community then they defeat the purpose of the community, which needs to protect all its members based on the strength of the individuals in the community.
In the same light, the individuals who determine the morality of the community must always ensure the equality and justness of their laws and standards. As King discussed, "the fact that there fire two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the Brat to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust law is no law at all." The community is based on feelings of safety and support so the community must treat its entire population equally in these regards and must always be willing to evolve to treat the true members of the community no matter if the views of the individuals are in the majority or minority. Lastly, if this is not the case and members of the community are not treated justly then the individuals must resist: "in any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action." The individual has the responsibility to peacefully protect the values of the community against any curroption.
Overall the inividual owes the community his or her full effort to stand for the morality and values that initially established the community. Conversly, it's the responsibility of the community to rule justly and equally for it's population in all circumstances.

Prompt 1

Can and should one lead the unquestioned life?

As with most philisophical questions there are many answers to one question, and will differ between many of those who analyze and put forth their opinions and answers. Given the society the majority of people live in today who base many of their ideals in religion or materialism it is certainly possible to lead the unquestioned life, and while that lifestyle might provide an easier approach to life, ultimately individuals will be better fulfilled if they are able to analyze themselves and the societies of the world they live in.
The societies today base many of their ideals for a prosperous life in beliefs of materialism, or the other extreme, religion, and therefore many people and cultures are able to lead lives that are unquestioned and have the appearance of being fulfilled while in the end, they will always be left with an emotional gap in their life. While religion for many can provide a deep insight into their own lives, ultimately as Socrates said, "The truth lies with each of us not in the stars, or in tradition or in religious books, or in the opinions of the masses. Each of us has within him, the true principle of right thinking and acting." Although many are able to use religion or tradition to be able to gain greater understading, many people use these elements purely because they believe it automatically gives a divine presence in their life without putting forth any questions of their own, and therefore makes them more of the conformist that Mark Twain speaks of in his Corn-Pone Opinions than an individual who truly examines the unquestioned life that Socrates speaks about. While religion can lead to questioning the ideals that one lives by it demands that the individual utilize religion as a means to gaining understanding and not purely accepting the complete doctarine of the religion as life's answers.
On the other hand, the materialism of much of present day culture leads purely to an unquestioned life that leaves individuals lacking in understanding of themselves that world they live in. It is through these beliefs where Mark Twain's statement: "He must get his opinions from other people; he must reason out none for himself; he must have no first-hand views," comes to be the truth. In a materialist world, peoples beliefs in what is right or what brings betterment to their life is purely decided by the society they live in and not by their own instincts or inclinations. People will adapt only to the newest trend and not to their own truthful evolution in beliefs and therefore will fianlly reach a point, because it is impossible to live an entire life without reflecting on it at some point, which does mean to question it but purely to reflect on it, where the individual will look and see a life of no substantial reasoning for any substantial opinion and either realize they have no come to understand themselves or will just have a feeling of emptiness. Furthermore, if an individual is able to question their life and the world that surrounds them it may lead to harder questions and certrain difficult truths but in the end will lead to a much greater understanding and fulfillment from life. And as Mark Twain said, "The outside influences are always pouring in upon us, and we are always obeying their orders and accepting their verdicts." There are always outside influences whether they're societal, religous or familial the unquestioned life will as he said purely accept what is decided by others. On the other hand, the questioned life, "the life worth leading" as Socrates put it will be able to manage and balance the outisde influeces, analyze them and compare them with their own constantly developing beliefs and therefore be able to have a full understanding of the situations and obstacles that life puts forth.