102,815
edits
Changes
Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame '''Equality''' has many meanings, but when associated with social opportunities, the term '''egalitarian''' (deriv...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Equality.jpg|right|frame]]
'''Equality''' has many [[meanings]], but when associated with social opportunities, the term '''egalitarian''' (derived from the French word égal, meaning "equal"), has two distinct definitions in modern [[English]].[1] It is defined either as a [[political]] [[doctrine]] that holds that all people should be treated as equals and have the same [[political]], [[economic]], social, and civil rights[2] or as a social philosophy advocating the removal of economic inequalities among people.
In modern [[cultures]], peoples tend to be divided into upper or lower classes. However, before the relatively recent [[agricultural]] [[revolution]], [[humanity]] existed in primarily hunter-gatherer societies that, some believe, were at least largely egalitarian. It is considered by some to be the natural state of [[society]].[3][4][5]
==Forms==
Common forms of egalitarianism include economic egalitarianism, legal egalitarianism, luck egalitarianism, political egalitarianism, [[gender]] egalitarianism, [[racial]] equality, asset-based egalitarianism, and Christian egalitarianism.
==Political==
The framers of various modern governments made references to [[the Enlightenment]] principles of egalitarianism, "inalienable rights endowed by their [[Creator]]," in the [[moral]] principles by which they lived, and which formed the basis for their legacy.
==Christian==
The Christian egalitarian view holds that the [[Bible]] teaches the fundamental equality of [[women]] and [[men]] of all racial and ethnic [[groups]], all economic classes, and all age groups, based on the teachings and example of [[Jesus]] Christ and the overarching principles of [[scripture]].
==Philosophical==
At a cultural level, egalitarian theories have developed in sophistication and acceptance during the past two hundred years. Among the notable broadly egalitarian philosophies are [[socialism]], [[communism]], [[anarchism]], left-libertarianism, and progressivism, all of which propound economic, political, and legal egalitarianism, respectively. Several egalitarian [[ideas]] enjoy wide support among [[intellectuals]] and in the general [[populations]] of many countries. Whether any of these ideas have been significantly implemented in [[practice]], however, remains a controversial question. For instance, some[who?] argue that modern representative democracy is a realization of political egalitarianism, while others believe that, in [[reality]], most political power still resides in the hands of a ruling class, rather than in the hands of the people.
==Studies==
A study of American college students published in ''Nature'' showed that people are willing to pay to reduce inequality.[6] When subjects were placed into groups and given [[random]] amounts of income, they spent their own [[money]] to reduce the incomes of the highest earners and increase the incomes of the lowest earners.[7][8] Critics argued that no [[experiments]] have been made on working adults whereupon they might not be generous with redistribution of their income.
In a follow-up study, Swiss children showed a significant increase in sharing between the ages of 3 and 8. It has not been determined whether the results of either of these experiments are due to an innate instinct, or exposure to and adoption of the [[customs]] of other people.[9]
==Support and criticism==
A [[society]] that meets the meritocratic goal of equal opportunity might still be a harsh [[environment]] for those who lack the [[physical]] or mental capabilities to compete. It can be argued that policies that go beyond the meritocratic [[ideals]] are ineffective.[10] Political correctness has been criticized for establishing a "petty word" society.
Various other anti-egalitarian views have been brought forward, among others in the discussion on the distribution of income. To the contrary, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rawls John Rawls] has [[argued]] that the welfare of a [[society]] depends on the welfare of the worst-off [[individual]] because society is better off if one improves the welfare of others.[11]
==References==
# http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egalitarianism
# The American Heritage (2003). "egalitarianism".
# John Gowdy (1998). Limited Wants, Unlimited Means: A reader on Hunter-Gatherer Economics and the Environment. St Louis: Island Press. pp. 342. ISBN 155963555X.
# Dahlberg, Frances. (1975). Woman the Gatherer. London: Yale university press. ISBN 0-30-02989-6.
# Erdal, D. & Whiten, A. (1996) "Egalitarianism and Machiavellian Intelligence in Human Evolution" in Mellars, P. & Gibson, K. (eds) Modelling the Early Human Mind. Cambridge MacDonald Monograph Series
# Dawes, Christopher T.,James H. Fowler, Tim Johnson, Richard McElreath, Oleg Smirnov (12 April 2007). "Egalitarian Motives in Humans". Nature 446: 794-796. doi:10.1038/nature05651.
# "The Robin Hood impulse". The Daily Telegraph. 12 April 2007. p. 8.
# "Making the Paper: James Fowler". Nature (446,): xiii. 12 April 2007.
# As Kids Grow Older, Egalitarianism Honed by Jon Hamilton. All Things Considered, NPR. 27 Aug 2008.
# John Schar (1967) "Equality of Opportunity—and Beyond"
# Joseph E. Stiglitz (2000) "Frontiers of Development Economics: The Future in Perspective"
==External links==
Look up egalitarianism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy]:
:[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/egalitarianism/ Egalitarianism], by R. Arneson (2002).
:[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/equality/ Equality], by S. Gosepath (2007).
:[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/equal-opportunity/ Equality of opportunity], by R. Arneson (2002).
*[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/catalog/data/023108/0231081200.HTM Lepowsky, Maria. 1993. Fruit of the Motherland: Gender in an Egalitarian Society]. New York: Columbia University Press.
*[http://www.ucd.ie/esc The Equality Studies Centre]
*[http://www.twinoaks.org/ Twin Oaks Intentional Community]
*[http://www.thefec.org/ Federation of Egalitarian Communities]
[[Category: Philosophy]]
[[Category: Sociology]]
'''Equality''' has many [[meanings]], but when associated with social opportunities, the term '''egalitarian''' (derived from the French word égal, meaning "equal"), has two distinct definitions in modern [[English]].[1] It is defined either as a [[political]] [[doctrine]] that holds that all people should be treated as equals and have the same [[political]], [[economic]], social, and civil rights[2] or as a social philosophy advocating the removal of economic inequalities among people.
In modern [[cultures]], peoples tend to be divided into upper or lower classes. However, before the relatively recent [[agricultural]] [[revolution]], [[humanity]] existed in primarily hunter-gatherer societies that, some believe, were at least largely egalitarian. It is considered by some to be the natural state of [[society]].[3][4][5]
==Forms==
Common forms of egalitarianism include economic egalitarianism, legal egalitarianism, luck egalitarianism, political egalitarianism, [[gender]] egalitarianism, [[racial]] equality, asset-based egalitarianism, and Christian egalitarianism.
==Political==
The framers of various modern governments made references to [[the Enlightenment]] principles of egalitarianism, "inalienable rights endowed by their [[Creator]]," in the [[moral]] principles by which they lived, and which formed the basis for their legacy.
==Christian==
The Christian egalitarian view holds that the [[Bible]] teaches the fundamental equality of [[women]] and [[men]] of all racial and ethnic [[groups]], all economic classes, and all age groups, based on the teachings and example of [[Jesus]] Christ and the overarching principles of [[scripture]].
==Philosophical==
At a cultural level, egalitarian theories have developed in sophistication and acceptance during the past two hundred years. Among the notable broadly egalitarian philosophies are [[socialism]], [[communism]], [[anarchism]], left-libertarianism, and progressivism, all of which propound economic, political, and legal egalitarianism, respectively. Several egalitarian [[ideas]] enjoy wide support among [[intellectuals]] and in the general [[populations]] of many countries. Whether any of these ideas have been significantly implemented in [[practice]], however, remains a controversial question. For instance, some[who?] argue that modern representative democracy is a realization of political egalitarianism, while others believe that, in [[reality]], most political power still resides in the hands of a ruling class, rather than in the hands of the people.
==Studies==
A study of American college students published in ''Nature'' showed that people are willing to pay to reduce inequality.[6] When subjects were placed into groups and given [[random]] amounts of income, they spent their own [[money]] to reduce the incomes of the highest earners and increase the incomes of the lowest earners.[7][8] Critics argued that no [[experiments]] have been made on working adults whereupon they might not be generous with redistribution of their income.
In a follow-up study, Swiss children showed a significant increase in sharing between the ages of 3 and 8. It has not been determined whether the results of either of these experiments are due to an innate instinct, or exposure to and adoption of the [[customs]] of other people.[9]
==Support and criticism==
A [[society]] that meets the meritocratic goal of equal opportunity might still be a harsh [[environment]] for those who lack the [[physical]] or mental capabilities to compete. It can be argued that policies that go beyond the meritocratic [[ideals]] are ineffective.[10] Political correctness has been criticized for establishing a "petty word" society.
Various other anti-egalitarian views have been brought forward, among others in the discussion on the distribution of income. To the contrary, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rawls John Rawls] has [[argued]] that the welfare of a [[society]] depends on the welfare of the worst-off [[individual]] because society is better off if one improves the welfare of others.[11]
==References==
# http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egalitarianism
# The American Heritage (2003). "egalitarianism".
# John Gowdy (1998). Limited Wants, Unlimited Means: A reader on Hunter-Gatherer Economics and the Environment. St Louis: Island Press. pp. 342. ISBN 155963555X.
# Dahlberg, Frances. (1975). Woman the Gatherer. London: Yale university press. ISBN 0-30-02989-6.
# Erdal, D. & Whiten, A. (1996) "Egalitarianism and Machiavellian Intelligence in Human Evolution" in Mellars, P. & Gibson, K. (eds) Modelling the Early Human Mind. Cambridge MacDonald Monograph Series
# Dawes, Christopher T.,James H. Fowler, Tim Johnson, Richard McElreath, Oleg Smirnov (12 April 2007). "Egalitarian Motives in Humans". Nature 446: 794-796. doi:10.1038/nature05651.
# "The Robin Hood impulse". The Daily Telegraph. 12 April 2007. p. 8.
# "Making the Paper: James Fowler". Nature (446,): xiii. 12 April 2007.
# As Kids Grow Older, Egalitarianism Honed by Jon Hamilton. All Things Considered, NPR. 27 Aug 2008.
# John Schar (1967) "Equality of Opportunity—and Beyond"
# Joseph E. Stiglitz (2000) "Frontiers of Development Economics: The Future in Perspective"
==External links==
Look up egalitarianism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy]:
:[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/egalitarianism/ Egalitarianism], by R. Arneson (2002).
:[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/equality/ Equality], by S. Gosepath (2007).
:[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/equal-opportunity/ Equality of opportunity], by R. Arneson (2002).
*[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/catalog/data/023108/0231081200.HTM Lepowsky, Maria. 1993. Fruit of the Motherland: Gender in an Egalitarian Society]. New York: Columbia University Press.
*[http://www.ucd.ie/esc The Equality Studies Centre]
*[http://www.twinoaks.org/ Twin Oaks Intentional Community]
*[http://www.thefec.org/ Federation of Egalitarian Communities]
[[Category: Philosophy]]
[[Category: Sociology]]