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Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Equality' and 'Political Philosophy (3rd ed)'

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8 ideas

25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 1. Grounds of equality
Equality was once opposed to aristocracy, but now it opposes public utility and individual rights [Nagel]
     Full Idea: Egalitarianism was once opposed to aristocratic values, but now it is opposed by adherents of two non-aristocratic values: utility (increase benefit, even if unequally) and individual rights (which redistribution violates).
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §2)
The ideal of acceptability to each individual underlies the appeal to equality [Nagel]
     Full Idea: The ideal of acceptability to each individual underlies the appeal to equality.
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §8)
Opportunity should ignore extraneous factors, or foster competence, or ignore all disadvantages [Swift]
     Full Idea: The minimal conception of equality of opportunity is that race or gender or religion should not affect chances of a good job or education. The conventional conception needs equality in acquiring competences. Radical views ignore inborn disadvantages.
     From: Adam Swift (Political Philosophy (3rd ed) [2014], 3 'Equality')
     A reaction: [my summary of Swift] The strong version only says the less talented should have access to large rewards. The whole idea has strong capitalist assumptions.
In judging disputes, should we use one standard, or those of each individual? [Nagel]
     Full Idea: In assessing equality of claims, it must be decided whether to use a single, objective standard, or whether interests should be ranked by the person's own estimation. Also should they balance momentary or long-term needs?
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §6)
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 2. Political equality
Equality can either be defended as good for society, or as good for individual rights [Nagel]
     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.
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §2)
Equality nowadays is seen as political, social, legal and economic [Nagel]
     Full Idea: Contemporary political debate recognises four types of equality: political, social, legal and economic.
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §1)
     A reaction: Meaning equality of 1) power and influence, 2) status and respect, 3) rights and justice, 4) wealth.
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 4. Economic equality
Inequalities are needed, as incentives to do the most important jobs [Swift]
     Full Idea: Without inequalities, people will have no incentive to do one job rather than another - to do the kind of work which is most useful.
     From: Adam Swift (Political Philosophy (3rd ed) [2014], 1 'Rawls')
     A reaction: The reality is that the lowest pay goes to the jobs that no one wants to do, and all the really nice jobs are usually well paid. Which is a conspiracy, because all the salaries are set by the people with the nice jobs.
A person can desire redistibution of wealth, without it being for reasons of equality [Swift]
     Full Idea: Someone who rejects equality can care passionately that resources should be transferred from the rich to the poor. They are just rejecting a particular reason that might be offered to justify the redistribution.
     From: Adam Swift (Political Philosophy (3rd ed) [2014], 3 'Intro')
     A reaction: For example, it might be for utilitarian reasons, which usually only seek maximised happiness, not equal happiness. And one may love many forms of equality, without economic equality being one of them.