Equality recent aspects and political theory

Equality is a fundamental principle that underscores the belief that all individuals should be treated with the same level of respect, fairness, and justice. It is a concept deeply embedded in the fabric of democratic societies and human rights doctrines, emphasizing the inherent dignity and value of every person.

1. MOOC ON POLITICAL THEORY: CONCEPTS & DEBATES   MODULE 31 Equality: Recent Aspects

2. Barker The issue of economic equality of income and property is too grave and pressing an issue to be dismissed with vague generalities. A static and immobile society of economic equality is not the environment in which the greatest number of persons can achieve the greatest development of the capacities of personality.

3. Equality has to be reconcile in both, and in particular, to the principle of liberty. In fact, liberty matters more than equality because it is more closely connected in the supreme value of personality and the spontaneous development of its capacities. Equality of opportunity facilitates capacity-development; but the major and ultimate ends is liberation of capacity.   Interdependence of Liberty and Equality  

4. Equality can broadly be conceived as “equality of opportunity” and “equality of outcome”. These two terms have been contrasted. Of the two, in contemporary political discourse “equality of opportunity” is the more preferred term in political discourse. “Equality of outcome” is seen as more controversial as the term connotes socialism or possibly communism.

5. The two concepts are not always clearly contrasted. They are totally polar opposite concepts. They are highly related to each other inasmuch as one cannot be understood without considering the other. It has been suggested that it would be unrealistic to think about equality of opportunity in isolation without considering inequality of income and wealth. In fact it would be impossible to understand equality without some assessment of outcomes.

6. Amartya Sen Equality of autonomy has been explained as equality in the degree of empowerment people have to make decisions affecting their lives, how much choice and canola they have, given their circumstances.

7. Equality of process Equality of perception related to the general notion of fair treatment that individuals should be perceived as being of equal worth

8. Equality must reign so that democracy can survive and Liberty can shower its benefits on human race. The root idea of democracy is equality, because it is only through the gateway of equality we can hope to get on to the shrine of liberty and have a real taste of fraternity. Liberty and equality are complementary idea; without equality, liberty is dangerously insecure.