Single Idea 18634

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

Full Idea

The prevailing view [of equal opportunity] only recognises differences in social circumstances, while ignoring differences in natural talents (or treating them as if they were a choice). This is an arbitrary limit on the theory's central intuition.

Gist of Idea

Equal opportunity arbitrarily worries about social circumstances, but ignores talents

Source

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

Book Reference

Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)' [OUP 1992], p.57


A Reaction

Of course we (society) can do a lot about your social circumstances, but very little about your talents, other than to develop them or thwart them. Talented children need more than mere 'opportunity'.