Equality

Equality also remains a contested concept, and once again is at the heart of political debate. The word equality carries differing interpretations about what counts as ‘equality’


Natural Inequality
Natural viewpoints such as those of Aristotle who claimed ‘it is unjust to threat unequal equally as equals unequally’. The old view focused on differences between men and women – which is obviously defunct today.
Natural inequality may be considered today to be intelligence as grounds for university admission.


Equality of treatment / opportunity / rights


The chance to develop individual powers or gifts without discrimination
Which allows people to achieve the scare social rewards – widening the competition for different positions
Citizens are treated equally unless good and relevant reasons are used to justify discrimination
Essentially, everyone is treated as an individual and the group they belong to (class, age, race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion) are not taken as grounds to discriminate – blind justice
Do inherent problems with different races culture not render some people unable to achieve certain outcomes?
Social mobility has narrowed since the adoption of this system – good or bad or indifferent?
Are some issues non-self inflicted (such as intelligence) that may call for a redistributive justice because these people have been dealt a ‘bad’ hand.
Can we maintain a society without civil unrest and resentment if we don’t have SOME measure of equal outcome?


Equal Outcomes


This type of equality is associated with outcome – ‘equal things’.
Power, Wealth, Redistributive justice, jobs, money etc.
This may involve positive discrimination, quota setting in order to ensure equal outcomes. **This is often seen in relation to ethnicity
In general, this view is associated with the idea that it brings about social justice
How can we seriously consider equality giving someone who is less able the chance to succeed over someone who is more able?
In economic terms, does equality of outcome not lead to fewer incentives to succeed – this is bad for growth.
Equal treatment allows social mobility without compromising the true meaning of equality


My personal opinion that that equality is primarily about equal treatment – it provides an incentive for people to succeed and provides true equality – no discrimination positive or negative. However, in terms of outcomes, as a society we must look at issues such as the poverty trap and realise that a partly redistributive tax system is required and a LIMITED measure of equality of outcome is desirable but it should never compromise the ideals of equality of treatment.


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