Humanity went through centuries of slavery, Nazism, neglecting of women rights and
discrimination of disabled. All those issues, now regarded as unquestionably wrong in the
Western Hemisphere, were often based on arguments of manifested differences between
people. Even though people are still as different in characteristics, endowment and lifestyle as
they ever have been, the attitude of many societies towards those topics drastically changed
over the last centuries. There must be some significant reasons to regard humans now as
fundamentally equal although they are dissimilar in so many ways. The question is still a
fascinating one: Is it therefore justified to treat all people equally and is that a goal worth
achieving? It is legitimate to consider people equal in certain areas whilst unequal in others. I
will argue that there are good reasons to treat people equally as they are equal in some
respects and treat them unequally because they are unequal in others but also to treat
people equally although they are unequal. However for this purpose my essay will be
organized in three sections. In the first passage I will defend equality of rights, equality before
the law and equality in politics, backed up by the principle of Equality of Respect or
Universal Humanity. Starting of with equality of resources in the second part, I will also
examine equality of happiness and welfare. In the third paragraph the debate over equality of
opportunity and equality of a basic living standard marks the end of my discussion. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Principle of Universal Humanity
3. Equality of Resources, Happiness and Welfare
4. Equality of Opportunity
5. Equality of a Basic Living Standard
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The essay explores the ethical justification for treating humans as equals despite their manifest physical and social inequalities. It examines the tension between the ideal of fundamental human equality and the practical realities of a competitive, capitalist society, questioning whether total equality is achievable or even desirable.
- The conceptual basis of Universal Humanity and human rights.
- The distinction between equality of rights and equality of resources.
- The moral implications of inequality in talents and life prospects.
- The limitations and potential of equality of opportunity.
- The necessity of guaranteeing a basic living standard as a matter of moral urgency.
Excerpt from the Book
The principle of equality of welfare or happiness
The principle of equality of welfare or happiness measures to what extent individuals are able to fulfil the goals that they themselves value. The purpose of it is overall happiness, tackling everybody according to their individual needs to achieve equality in the end. Therefore fundamental differences in behaviour towards men are necessary to be fair. One has to consider their unequal characteristics and situations because “it is a matter of logic that particular sorts of needs constitute a reason for receiving particular sorts of good.” (Pojman L., p. 98). The principle of equal welfare though takes tastes as given and it does not consider the responsibility of humans for their ends. As a result society is driven into a dilemma of favouring those beings with expensive tastes and discriminate against those who have cheap tastes because one must assign far more resources to the former to satisfy his/her desires to the same extent. We also have to consider that most people are insatiable. So they will always obtain the most expensive taste which could be devastating for a society trying to fulfil those increasing demands which cannot be objectively measured anyway. Reaching the highest equal level of satisfaction for everybody is a morally noble but unachievable goal.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This section introduces the core philosophical dilemma regarding human equality and outlines the scope of the essay, spanning rights, resources, and life standards.
2. Principle of Universal Humanity: This chapter argues that all individuals possess equal worth based on shared human characteristics like self-respect and the capacity for moral reflection.
3. Equality of Resources, Happiness and Welfare: The author examines the practical and psychological hurdles to redistributing wealth, arguing that equal resources do not necessarily lead to equal welfare.
4. Equality of Opportunity: This chapter critiques the concept of meritocracy, suggesting that it often masks underlying inequalities rooted in family background and social circumstances.
5. Equality of a Basic Living Standard: The discussion pivots to the moral necessity of ensuring a baseline of well-being for all, regardless of individual talents or luck in the "natural lottery."
6. Conclusion: The concluding section summarizes that while literal equality is unattainable, society has a moral obligation to prioritize the needs of the worst-off.
Keywords
Universal Humanity, Equality, Inequality, Human Rights, Equality of Opportunity, Welfare, Capitalism, Social Justice, Moral Philosophy, Meritocracy, Redistribution, Basic Living Standard, Ethics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental theme of this work?
The essay explores the moral and philosophical arguments surrounding human equality, specifically addressing whether it is justified to treat people as equals despite their obvious differences.
What are the primary areas of analysis?
The work analyzes equality within the frameworks of rights, resources, happiness, economic opportunity, and the provision of a basic living standard.
What is the central research question?
The core question is whether treating people as equals is a valid and achievable goal, and how society can address the paradox of treating fundamentally unequal individuals as equals.
Which methodology is utilized?
The author employs a normative philosophical approach, drawing on established political and moral theorists like Kant, Rawls, and Walzer to analyze different interpretations of egalitarianism.
What does the main body of the text address?
It systematically deconstructs various concepts of equality, testing them against practical realities like the capitalist system, human psychology, and social institutions such as the family.
Which keywords best describe this publication?
Key terms include Universal Humanity, social justice, equality of opportunity, moral philosophy, and egalitarianism.
How does the author view the role of the family in achieving equality?
The author suggests that the institution of the family acts as a barrier to true equality of opportunity because it perpetuates advantages inherited at birth, regardless of individual merit.
Does the author conclude that total equality is possible?
No, the author concludes that literal equality in all aspects of life is neither achievable nor entirely desirable, advocating instead for prioritizing a basic living standard for the most disadvantaged.
- Quote paper
- Lucia Schuster (Author), 2002, There is no good reason to treat people as equals because they are manifestly unequal Discuss, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/13833
