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Egalitarianism

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"Equalist" redirects here. For the antagonists in The Legend of Korra, see The Equalists.

Egalitarianism (from French égal 'equal'), or equalitarianism,[1][2] is a school of thought within political philosophy that builds on the concept of social equality, prioritizing it for all people.[3] Egalitarian doctrines are generally characterized by the idea that all humans are equal in fundamental worth or moral status.[4] As such, all people should be accorded equal rights and treatment under the law.[5][6] Egalitarian doctrines have supported many modern social movements, including the Enlightenment, feminism, civil rights, and international human rights.[7]

One key aspect of egalitarianism is its emphasis on equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances. This means ensuring that everyone has access to the same resources, education, and opportunities to succeed in life. By promoting equal opportunities, egalitarianism aims to level the playing field and reduce disparities that result from social inequalities.

Forms

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Some specifically focused egalitarian concerns include communism, legal egalitarianism, luck egalitarianism, political egalitarianism, gender egalitarianism, racial equality, equality of opportunity, and Christian egalitarianism. Common forms of egalitarianism include political and philosophical.[8]

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Further information: Equality before the law

One argument is that liberalism provides democratic societies with the means to carry out civic reform by providing a framework for developing public policy and providing the correct conditions for individuals to achieve civil rights.[9] There are two major types of equality:[10]

Equality of person

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The English Bill of Rights of 1689 and the United States Constitution use only the term person in operative language involving fundamental rights and responsibilities, except for a reference to men in the English Bill of Rights regarding men on trial for treason; and a rule of proportional Congressional representation in the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.[citation needed]

As the rest of the Constitution, in its operative language the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution uses the term person, stating that "nor shall any State deprives any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws".[11]

Gender equality

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The motto "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" was used during the French Revolution and is still used as an official motto of the French government. The 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen French Constitution is also framed with this basis in equal rights of humankind.[citation needed]

The Declaration of Independence of the United States is an example of an assertion of equality of men as "All men are created equal" and the wording of men and man is a reference to both men and women, i.e., mankind. John Locke is sometimes considered the founder of this form.[citation needed] Many state constitutions in the United States also use the rights of man language rather than rights of person[citation needed] since the noun man has always been a reference to and an inclusion of both men and women.[12]

The Tunisian Constitution of 2014 provides that "men and women shall be equal in their rights and duties".[13]

Feminism is informed by egalitarian philosophy, being a gender-focused philosophy of equality. Feminism is distinguished from egalitarianism by also existing as a political and social movement.[14]

Social egalitarianism

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At a cultural level, egalitarian theories have developed in sophistication and acceptance during the past two hundred years. Among the notable broadly egalitarian philosophies are socialism, communism, social anarchism, libertarian socialism, left-libertarianism, and progressivism, some of which propound economic egalitarianism. Anti-egalitarianism[15] or elitism[16] is opposition to egalitarianism.

Economic

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An early example of equality is what might be described as outcome economic egalitarianism is the Chinese philosophy of agriculturalism which held that the economic policies of a country need to be based upon egalitarian self-sufficiency.[17]

In socialism, social ownership of means of production is sometimes considered to be a form of economic egalitarianism because in an economy characterized by social ownership the surplus product generated by industry would accrue to the population as a whole as opposed to a class of private owners, thereby granting each increased autonomy and greater equality in their relationships with one another. Although the economist Karl Marx is sometimes mistaken to be an egalitarian, Marx eschewed normative theorizing on moral principles altogether. Marx did have a theory of the evolution of moral principles concerning specific economic systems.[18]

The American economist John Roemer has put forth a new perspective on equality and its relationship to socialism. Roemer attempts to reformulate Marxist analysis to accommodate normative principles of distributive justice, shifting the argument for socialism away from purely technical and materialist reasons to one of distributive justice. Roemer argues that according to the principle of distributive justice, the traditional definition of socialism is based on the principle that individual compensation is proportional to the value of the labor one expends in production ("To each according to his contribution") is inadequate. Roemer concludes that egalitarians must reject socialism as it is classically defined for equality to be realized.[19]

The egalitarian management style focusses on the approach to democratize power, decision-making, and responsibility and distributed them more evenly among all members of a team or organization.[20]

Egalitarianism and non-human animals

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Many philosophers, including Ingmar Persson,[21] Peter Vallentyne,[22] Nils Holtug,[23] Catia Faria[24] and Lewis Gompertz,[25] have argued that egalitarianism implies that the interests of non-human animals must be taken into account as well. Philosopher Oscar Horta has further argued that egalitarianism implies rejecting speciesism, ceasing to exploit non-human animals and aiding animals suffering in nature.[26] Furthermore, Horta argues that non-human animals should be prioritized since they are worse off than humans.[26]

Religious and spiritual egalitarianism

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Christianity

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See also: Christian egalitarianism

In 1957, Martin Luther King Jr. quoted Galatians 3:28 ("There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus"[27]) in a pamphlet opposing racial segregation in the United States. He wrote, "Racial segregation is a blatant denial of the unity which we all have in Christ."[28] He also alluded to that verse at the end of his 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech.[29] The verse is cited to support an egalitarian interpretation of Christianity.[30] According to Jakobus M. Vorster, the central question debated by theologians is whether the statement about ecclesiastical relationships can be translated into a Christian-ethical norm for all human relationships.[31] Vorster argues that it can, and that the verse provides a Christian foundation for the promotion of human rights and equality, in contrast to "patriarchy, racism and exploitation" which in his opinion are caused by human sinfulness.[31] Karin Neutel notes how some apply the philosophy of Paul's statement to include sexuality, health and race saying "[The original] three pairs must have been as relevant in the first century, as the additional categories are today." She argues that the verse points to a utopian, cosmopolitan community.[29]

Islam

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The verse 49:13 of The Quran states: "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted".[32] Muhammad echoed these egalitarian sentiments, sentiments that clashed with the practices of the pre-Islamic cultures.[citation needed] In a review of Louise Marlow's Hierarchy and Egalitarianism in Islamic Thought, Ismail Poonawala argues the desire for the Arab-Muslim Empire to consolidate power and administer the state rather led to the deemphasis of egalitarian teachings in the Qur'an and by the Prophet.[33]

Modern egalitarianism theory

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Modern egalitarianism is a theory that rejects the classic definition of egalitarianism as a possible achievement economically, politically, and socially. Modern egalitarianism theory, or new egalitarianism, outlines that if everyone had the same opportunity cost,[clarification needed] then there would be no comparative advances and no one would gain from trading with each other. In essence, the immense gains people receive from trading with each other arise because they are unequal in characteristics and talents—these differences may be innate or developed so that people can gain from trading with each other.[34]

Discussion

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Alexander Berkman and Thompson et. al

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Thompson et al. theorize that any society consisting of only one perspective, be it egalitarianism, hierarchies, individualist, fatalist or autonomists will be inherently unstable as the claim is that an interplay between all these perspectives are required if each perspective is to be fulfilling. Although an individualist according to cultural theory is aversive towards both principles and groups, individualism is not fulfilling if individual brilliance cannot be recognized by groups, or if individual brilliance cannot be made permanent in the form of principles.[35]: 121  Accordingly, they argue that egalitarians have no power except through their presence, unless they (by definition, reluctantly) embrace principles which enable them to cooperate with fatalists and hierarchies. They argue that this means they will also have no individual sense of direction without a group, which could be mitigated by following individuals outside their group, namely autonomists or individualists. Alexander Berkman suggests that "equality does not mean an equal amount but equal opportunity. ... Do not make the mistake of identifying equality in liberty with the forced equality of the convict camp. True anarchist equality implies freedom, not quantity. It does not mean that everyone must eat, drink, or wear the same things, do the same work, or live in the same manner. Far from it: the very reverse. ... Individual needs and tastes differ, as appetites differ. It is an equal opportunity to satisfy them that constitutes true equality. ... Far from leveling, such equality opens the door for the greatest possible variety of activity and development. For human character is diverse."[36]

The cultural theory of risk holds egalitarianism—with fatalism termed as its opposite[35]: 78 —as defined by a negative attitude towards rules and principles; and a positive attitude towards group decision-making.[35]: 157  The theory distinguishes between hierarchists, who are positive towards both rules and groups; and egalitarians, who are positive towards groups, but negative towards rules. This is by definition a form of anarchist equality as referred to by Berkman. Thus, the fabric of an egalitarian society is held together by cooperation and implicit peer pressure rather than by explicit rules and punishment.[35]: 158 

Marxism

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Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels believed that an international proletarian revolution would bring about a socialist society which would then eventually give way to a communist stage of social development which would be a classless, stateless, moneyless, humane society erected on common ownership of the means of production and the principle of "From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs".[37] Marxism rejected egalitarianism in the sense of greater equality between classes, clearly distinguishing it from the socialist notion of the abolition of classes based on the division between workers and owners of productive property.[citation needed]

Allen Woods finds that Marx's view of classlessness was not the subordination of society to a universal interest such as a universal notion of equality, but it was about the creation of the conditions that would enable individuals to pursue their true interests and desires, making Marx's notion of communist society radically individualistic.[38] Although his position is often confused or conflated with distributive egalitarianism in which only the goods and services resulting from production are distributed according to notional equality, Marx eschewed the entire concept of equality as abstract and bourgeois, preferring to focus on more concrete principles such as opposition to exploitation on materialist grounds and economic logic.[39]

Murray Rothbard

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In the title essay of his book Egalitarianism as a Revolt Against Nature and Other Essays, Murray Rothbard argued that egalitarian theory always results in a politics of statist control because it is founded on revolt against the ontological structure of reality itself.[40] According to Rothbard, individuals are naturally unequal in their abilities, talents, and characteristics. He believed that this inequality was not only natural but necessary for a functioning society. In his view, people's unique qualities and abilities are what allow them to contribute to society in different ways.[40]

Rothbard argued that egalitarianism was a misguided attempt to impose an artificial equality on individuals, which would ultimately lead to societal breakdown. He believed that attempts to force equality through government policies or other means would stifle individual freedom and prevent people from pursuing their own interests and passions.[40] Furthermore, Rothbard believed that egalitarianism was rooted in envy and resentment towards those who were more successful or talented than others. He saw it as a destructive force that would lead to a culture of mediocrity, where people were discouraged from striving for excellence.[40]

Equity

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Main article: Social equity

The Atlas movement defines equitism as the idea that all groups should have equal rights and benefits.[41] The term has been used as the claimed philosophical basis of Telosa, a proposed utopia to be built in the United States by Marc Lore.[42][43] Social equity is about equality of outcomes for each groups, while egalitarianism generally advocates for equality of opportunity, recognizing that a fair society should provide all members with the same opportunities while recognizing that different outcomes are expected due to human individuality.[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Definition of equalitarianism". The Free Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2009.
  2. ^ "equalitarianism". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. ^ "egalitarian". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Egalitarianism". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab. Stanford University. 2019.
  5. ^ Robertson, David (2007). The Routledge Dictionary of Politics. Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-415-32377-2.
  6. ^ "Egalitarianism". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 7 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Egalitarianism". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  8. ^ Arneson, Richard (2013), "Egalitarianism", in Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2013 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved 18 June 2022
  9. ^ Rosales, José María (12 March 2010). Liberalism, Civic Reformism, and Democracy. 20th World Congress on Philosophy: Political Philosophy.
  10. ^ De Vos, M. (2020). The European Court of Justice and the march towards substantive equality in European Union anti-discrimination law. International Journal of Discrimination and the Law, 20(1), 62-87.
  11. ^ "14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Civil Rights (1868)". National Archives. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  12. ^ Rauer, Christine (2017). "Mann and Gender in Old English Prose: A Pilot Study" (PDF). Neophilologus. 101: 139–158. doi:10.1007/s11061-016-9489-1. hdl:10023/8978. S2CID 55817181.
  13. ^ "The Constitution Project".
  14. ^ Fiss, Owen (1994). "What is feminism". Arizona State Law Journal. 26: 413–428 – via HeinOnline.
  15. ^ Sidanius, Jim; et al. (2000). "Social dominance orientation, anti-egalitarianism and the political psychology of gender: An extension and cross-cultural replication". European Journal of Social Psychology. 30 (1): 41–67. doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-0992(200001/02)30:1<41::aid-ejsp976>3.0.co;2-o.
  16. ^ "Antonyms for egalitarian". English Thesaurus. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  17. ^ Denecke, Wiebke (2011). The Dynamics of Masters Literature: Early Chinese Thought from Confucius to Han Feizi. Harvard University Press. p. 38.
  18. ^ "Egalitarianism". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 16 August 2002. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  19. ^ Roemer, John (2008). "Socialism vs Social Democracy as Income-Equalizing Institutions". Eastern Economic Journal. 34 (1): 14–26. doi:10.1057/palgrave.eej.9050011. S2CID 153503350.
  20. ^ The culture Map, Erin Meyer, 2014
  21. ^ Persson, I. (1993). "A basis for (interspecies) equality". In Cavalieri, P.; Singer, P. (eds.). The Great Ape Project. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press. pp. 183–193.
  22. ^ Vallentyne, P. (2005). "Of mice and men: Equality and animals". Journal of Ethics. 9 (3–4): 403–433. doi:10.1007/s10892-005-3509-x. hdl:10355/10183. S2CID 13151744.
  23. ^ Holtug, N. (2007). "Equality for animals". In Ryberg, J.; Petersen, T.S.; Wolf, C. (eds.). New Waves in Applied Ethics. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 1–24.
  24. ^ Faria, C. (2014). "Equality, priority and nonhuman animals". Dilemata: International Journal of Applied Ethics. 14: 225–236.
  25. ^ Gompertz, L. (1997 [1824]) Moral inquiries on the situation of man and of brutes, London: Open Gate.
  26. ^ a b Horta, Oscar (25 November 2014). "Egalitarianism and Animals". Between the Species. 19 (1).
  27. ^ "Galatians 3:28 NIV". biblia.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  28. ^ "'For All ... A Non-Segregated Society,' A Message for Race Relations Sunday". The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute. Stanford University. 10 February 1957. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  29. ^ a b Neutel, Karin (19 May 2020). "Galatians 3:28—Neither Jew nor Greek, Slave nor Free, Male and Female". Biblical Archaeology Society. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  30. ^ Buell, Denise Kimber; Hodge, Caroline Johnson (2004). "The Politics of Interpretation: The Rhetoric of Race and Ethnicity in Paul". Journal of Biblical Literature. 123 (2): 235. doi:10.2307/3267944. ISSN 0021-9231. JSTOR 3267944.
  31. ^ a b Vorster, Jakobus M. (2019). "The Theological-Ethical Implications of Galatians 3:28 for a Christian Perspective on Equality as a Foundational Value in the Human Rights Discourse". In die Skriflig / In Luce Verbi. 53 (1): 8. doi:10.4102/ids.v53i1.2494.
  32. ^ "The Quranic Arabic Corpus – Translation". corpus.quran.com. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  33. ^ Poonawala, Ismail (Summer 1999). "Reviewed Work: Hierarchy and Egalitarianism in Islamic Thought by Louise Marlow". Iranian Studies. 32 (3): 405–407. doi:10.1017/S0021086200002759. JSTOR 4311272. S2CID 245659108.
  34. ^ Whaples, Robert M. (Summer 2017). "Egalitarianism: Fair and equal? New thinking on egalitarianism" (PDF). The Independent Review.
  35. ^ a b c d Thompson, Michael; Ellis, Richard; Wildavsky, Aaron (1990). Cultural Theory. Political Cultures. Routledge. ISBN 9780813378640.
  36. ^ Berkman, Alexander (2003). What is Anarchism?. AK Press. pp. 164–165. ISBN 1-902593-70-7.
  37. ^ Marx, Karl. "Critique of the Gotha Programme'".
  38. ^ Woods, Allen (2014). "Karl Marx on Equality". The Free Development of Each: Studies on Freedom, Right, and Ethics in Classical German Philosophy (PDF). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199685530.001.0001. ISBN 978-0199685530. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2014. Marx thinks the idea of equality is a vehicle for bourgeois class oppression, and something quite different from the communist goal of the abolition of classes. ... A society that has transcended class antagonisms, therefore, would not be one in which some truly universal interest at last reigns, to which individual interests must be sacrificed. It would instead be a society in which individuals freely act as the truly human individuals they are. Marx's radical communism was, in this way, also radically individualistic.
  39. ^ Nielsen, Kai (August 1987). "Rejecting Egalitarianism". Political Theory. 15 (3). SAGE Publications: 411–423. doi:10.1177/0090591787015003008. JSTOR 191211. S2CID 143748543.
  40. ^ a b c d Rothbard, Murray N. (2000) [1974]. Egalitarianism as a revolt against nature, and other essays (2nd ed.). Auburn, Ala.: Ludwig von Mises Institute. ISBN 0-945466-23-4. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  41. ^ "The Equitist Manifesto". Atlas.
  42. ^ Gleeson, Scott. "Billionaire Marc Lore outlines how he will build the inclusive, Utopian desert city Telosa". USA Today. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  43. ^ Kingson, Jennifer (25 August 2022). "'Cities of the future,' built from scratch". Axios. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  44. ^ Alfonseca, Kiara (10 February 2023). "DEI: What does it mean and what is its purpose?". ABC News. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
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