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Full Idea
Our innate equality is independence from being bound by others to more than one can in turn bind them.
Gist of Idea
Equality is not being bound in ways you cannot bind others
Source
Immanuel Kant (Metaphysics of Morals I: Doctrine of Right [1797], Div B)
Book Ref
Kant,Immanuel: 'The Metaphysics of Morals', ed/tr. Gregor,Mary [CUP 1991], p.63
A Reaction
This doesn't seem to capture the whole concept. The two of us may be unequally oppressed by a third. We are unequal with the third, but also with one another, though with no binding relationships.
| 21407 | Equality is not being bound in ways you cannot bind others [Kant] |
| 21076 | Equality is where you cannot impose a legal obligation you yourself wouldn't endure [Kant] |
| 7340 | Mosaic law was the first to embody the rule of law, and equality before the law [Johnson,P] |
| 18654 | Marxists say justice is unneeded in the truly good community [Kymlicka] |