Single Idea 23159

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 4. Economic equality]

Full Idea

There is a risk that, in the pursuit of equality, good things which there is difficulty in distributing evenly may not be admitted to be good.

Gist of Idea

Scarce goods may be denied entirely, to avoid their unequal distribution

Source

Bertrand Russell (Authority and the Individual [1949], 4)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Authority and the Individual' [Unwin 1977], p.61


A Reaction

Lovely sentence. The clarity and economy with which he expresses an intricate idea. Why can't you philosophers all write like that? This is not just the unequal distribution of scarce goods, but a subtler problem. The finest wines, for example.