2024-06-24
It is based on the equal moral worth and equality on the basis of humanity. Out of all 4 concepts liberty, rights, justice, equality. Equality is least intuitive and natural, inequality in nature, society, family.
Egalitarianism: Equality is end in in itself.
Meaning of equality: By various dimenisions
The Race Metaphor:
All should start at same time -> equality of opportunity -> formal equality
All should run with similar sports gear, similar training -> substantive equality
Physically weak/challenged should be compensated - may be by less numbers of lap -> positive discrimination - affirmative action
Reward of winning should be equal for all runners! (doesn't mean that all participants are wined, but all get equal rewards for running and completion) -> equality of outcomes.
Formal (equality before law) and substantive
Equality of opportunity and equality of outcomes
Ronald Dworkin:
1931-2013,
Rights as Trump
Books
Sovereign Virtue: the theory and practice of equality, equality of resources
Theory Resources Egalitarianism
John Rawls:
1921-2002, might be the most influential thinker of 20th century.
Theory of Justice as fairness -> Democratic equality, fair equality of opportunity
Rousseau:
1712-1178,
Book:
Discourse on origin of inequality -> talk about natural and conventional inequality (based on class, caste or any form of hierarchy)
Hobbs
1588-1679,
Book:
Leviathan -> talk about, equality among men in nature -> natural equality (many be not in single domain, but if combine multiple such as strength, intelligences, etc.)
Tocqueville:
Book:
Democracy in America -> passion and charm of equality is general and strong
Karl Marx:
Substantive equality, what he wants to bring through communism.
Democracy in Athens, 5th century BC: Equal citizen.
American Declaration of Freedom, 1776: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
French Revoluation, 1789: Liberty, equality and fraternity
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948: reaffirmed faith in dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women.
A political thought that considered Equality as cornerstone of justice as fairness. Equality is intrinsic - equality is an end in itself and non-instrumental - equality is not a mean to achieve something, equality is end in itself.
Advocates equality as the basis for socio-political arrangements and public policy.
Different stands: - background inequalities
Difference dimensions of equality are based on approach to these lucks.
Different types of Egalitarianism
Equal access and chance. It ensures a level playing field, equality of opportunity to become unequal. Equality of access to rewards of life, equal treatment. Remove constraints of social bad luck. Accept inequality of outcome due to inequality of natural talent, individual choice and preferences. Based on classical fairness - like treated like, unlike treated unlike. Consistent with classical liberalism and conservatism - liberal and soft egalitarianism. It is formal, equality before law, one vote one person. it is substantive also, same state (position) initially. Promote efficiency, excellence and production, but allows for economic inequality.
Equality of results, conditions, rewards - income, welfare, resources. Substantive and positive equality. Provides meaning and substance to equality of opportunity. Attempt to compensate for both social and natural luck - hard egalitarianism. Troublesome idea extremely difficult to implement, give state too much power. Promotes social solidarity, fraternity, social peace and harmony. Allow much wider role of state - many interfere with liberty and autonomy. supported by socialist and communist ideologies.
Legitimate govt. must have equal concern for each of its citizen. Equal concern demands socio-economic arrangements which results from an imaginary market procedure which includes insurance for misfortune.
Political conception of equality -> requires state to treats each citizen with equal concern and equal respect (state should not direct citizens on what to do, how to do. Citizens should make choices according to his/her conception of good life, they are responsible for their choices, treat each according to one's dignity and special circumstances - treating like equally, unlike differently)
Imaginary market procedure:
May be compared with John Rawls democratic equality.
Equal satisfaction, well-being, pleasure
Communitarian account of distributive justice.
Put forward by Michael Walzer - "Sphere of Justice: A Defense of Pluralism and Equality", 1983.
Assumptions -
Every society have its own distinct spheres of distributions - such as Economy, Education, Family, Health etc. Each sphere has its own social goods - Economy - money, family - love, nepotism, kinship.
Every sphere is independent and autonomous from each other.
Meaning and values of social goods in each sphere is different by culture to culture (pluralism).
No universal norms for distributive justice
Justice requires that each good be distributed in accordance with its own sphere specific principles, which are decided by interpretation of its social meaning.
Exhange of social status/goods from one sphere to another is not possible. possession of a social good in one sphere did not affects possession or non-possession of social goods in other spheres.
One might possess some social good in a particular sphere and not possess social goods in another sphere. At a same time, someone else possess social goods in another sphere and not possess social good in One's sphere. May one possess social goods/position in higher in hierarchy in a sphere or two and lower position in some other spheres. Which makes the system complex, as there no universal principles of equality, combination of social spheres from a complex equality. Where one might possess social goods in one sphere and not possess in others. There are inequalities in spheres but not affect other spheres. With sum up all sphere, a somewhat equality can be found. Position of one depend on his decision and action in one sphere, but actions and capabilities in one sphere did give any advantage or disadvantage in other spheres.
Pros: value pluralism, avoid state intervention, Futuristic, substantive, and comprehensive.
Cons: Incoherent, complex, and difficult to implement, Idealistic assumptions, moral and cultural relativism, Denies global justice.