Single Idea 18633

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 2. Political equality]

Full Idea

The ideology of equal opportunity seems fair to many people in our society because it ensures that people's fate is determined by their choices, rather than their circumstances.

Gist of Idea

Equal opportunities seems fair, because your fate is from your choices, not your circumstances

Source

Will Kymlicka (Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn) [1990], 3.2)

Book Reference

Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)' [OUP 1992], p.56


A Reaction

Is it that we surmise that people have 'free will', and then engineer a situation where it can be exercised? Is it that the rest of us don't want to feel guilty when someone else's life goes awry (because it was 'their fault')?