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Full Idea
The communitarian defence of equality says it is good for society as a whole, whereas the individualistic defence defends equality as a correct distributive principle.
Gist of Idea
Equality can either be defended as good for society, or as good for individual rights
Source
Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §2)
Book Ref
Nagel,Thomas: 'Mortal Questions' [CUP 1981], p.108
| 3273 | Equality nowadays is seen as political, social, legal and economic [Nagel] |
| 3275 | Equality was once opposed to aristocracy, but now it opposes public utility and individual rights [Nagel] |
| 3274 | Equality can either be defended as good for society, or as good for individual rights [Nagel] |
| 3276 | A morality of rights is very minimal, leaving a lot of human life without restrictions or duties [Nagel] |
| 3277 | In judging disputes, should we use one standard, or those of each individual? [Nagel] |
| 3278 | An egalitarian system must give priority to those with the worst prospects in life [Nagel] |
| 3281 | The ideal of acceptability to each individual underlies the appeal to equality [Nagel] |
| 3282 | The general form of moral reasoning is putting yourself in other people's shoes [Nagel] |