Inkwell Institute
Professor’s Classroom
Subject: Equality/Government/Political Philosophy
Paper #7A
Note: In my last paper, Equality–What Is It Good For?”, I omitted explaining where the different political ideologies stand on the subject…….I would like to correct that oversight on my part……..I would like to thank Andrew Heywood and his book “Political Ideologies” for the breakdown by political leanings……he gave a much better synopsis than I would have….and in fewer words……I like simple but informative….
When it comes to people what are their particular beliefs in the “institution” of equality……I am glad you asked…..
Liberals: believe that people are born equal, in the sense of equal moral value….this implies formal equality, as well as the equality of opportunity. Classical liberal thinking emphasizes the need for strict meritocracy and economic incentives—modern liberals argue that genuine equal opportunities require relative social equality.
Conservatives: view society as naturally hierarchical and have dismissed equality as an abstract and unachievable goal. Modern conservatives see a strongly individualist belief in equality of opportunity while emphasizing the economic benefits of material inequality.
Socialists: regard equality as essential and a fundamental value and endorse social equality. Regardless of shifts in type of socialism, equality is seen as necessary for the establishment of justice or equality, and the enlarging more freedom in a positive sense.
Anarchists: stress political equality, as understood as equal and absolute right to personal autonomy, implying that all forms of political inequality amounts to oppression.
Fascists: believe that all of humankind is marked by radical inequality, between leaders and followers and between various nations or races…..nevertheless, the emphasis on nation or race implies that all members are equal, in terms of their core social identity.
There you have the major political ideologies and how they view the idea of equality…..remember, also, that there are many sub-categories within these ideas and that some of the views are tweaked to reflect their view of the subject.
To be continued……Next…….Why Party Politics?
As I think I might have mentioned a few hundred times, I don’t think there is, ever was, or ever will be any such thing as equality or that it’s even desirable – it implies blandnes and mediocrity and all attempts to create it always also have just that sort feel about then.
However, inequality is not the alternative and natural result of a lack of equality. Two people can be UNequal, without suffering INequality.
I know that’s playing with semantics, but to me inequality contains unfairness and prejudice – even bigotry, whilst people and things that are unequal, lack equality and are therefore simply different and, in my view, individuality is ALWAYS to be applauded, encouraged and admired because it can result in brilliance, genius and above all diversity. Diversity is VITAL. Without diversity, the human race is done.
I agree that individuality is something to applaud……with that said….man has become a pack oriented animal….he has made himself too dependent on government or should I call it …..society?
I think government distorts society to suit its own current ideology, or the personal interests of its members.
The explosion in communication and relative ease of long distance travel (amongst other things) has in part caused a sort of globalisation of society. When sosciety consisted of the village in which you lived, life might have been hard, but it was relatively simple.
These days there is a consistent attempt by governments of all types to homogenise society and deny and discourage individuality, which is why I am so against government control and particularly when it is (usually automatically) accompanied along with a huge amount of bureaucracy which I feel attemps to make us all even more into carbon copies of each other.
Bureaucracy can ONLY function by treating people as if they are all the same, even though they are CLEARLY NOT even similar. That, I believe is where our modern systems fail most badly. In order to make bureaucracy work, the primary governmental desire is always to control people and create a pseudo equality that doesn’t exist at all in reality – not for the public’s benefit as they claim, but solely to aid the system!
Good comment….I have read and re-read it several times and can find not parts with which I disagree…..