more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 22671

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

Full Idea

I know of only two methods of establishing equality in the political world; rights must be given to every citizen, or none at all to anyone.

Gist of Idea

Equality can only be established by equal rights for all (or no rights for anyone)

Source

Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America (abr Renshaw) [1840], 1.02)

Book Ref

Tocqueville,Alexis de: 'Democracy in America (abridged)', ed/tr. Renshaw,Patrick [Wordsworth 1998], p.28

A Reaction

We may have a vague concept of 'natural' rights, but primarily they are a tool of social engineering. You could grant equal rights on inheritance, for example, which turn out in practice to hugely favour the rich.

The 16 ideas with the same theme [equality of involvement in running society]:

22550 It is dreadful to neither give a share nor receive a share [Aristotle]
22568 Faction is for inferiors to be equal, and equals to become superior [Aristotle]
22569 The Heraeans replaced election with lot, to thwart campaigning [Aristotle]
19990 Democracy is corrupted by lack of equality, or by extreme equality (between rulers and ruled) [Montesquieu]
19857 All citizens are eligible for roles in the state, purely on the basis of merit [Mirabeau/committee]
22671 Equality can only be established by equal rights for all (or no rights for anyone) [Tocqueville]
4491 In modern society virtue is 'equal rights', but only because everyone is zero, so it is a sum of zeroes [Nietzsche]
20940 Perfect political equality requires economic equality [Gramsci]
23416 Political involvement is needed, to challenge existing practices [Habermas, by Kymlicka]
6478 Democracy is opposed to equality, if the poor are not a majority [Nagel]
3273 Equality nowadays is seen as political, social, legal and economic [Nagel]
3274 Equality can either be defended as good for society, or as good for individual rights [Nagel]
20592 Complex equality restricts equalities from spilling over, like money influencing politics and law [Walzer, by Tuckness/Wolf]
18633 Equal opportunities seems fair, because your fate is from your choices, not your circumstances [Kymlicka]
18634 Equal opportunity arbitrarily worries about social circumstances, but ignores talents [Kymlicka]
20503 Political equality is not much use without social equality [Wolff,J]