Philosophy Now Forum

Gary Childress wrote:

Melchior wrote:'Equality'? Where did you get the idea that this is a good thing?

Maybe from here?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charte ... cript.html

EDIT: Of course it only says "men" are created equal so I'm sure any attempt by Feminists to replace the word with "people" would be sheer fascism.

You have to understand what they meant by 'equal', which does not mean equally prosperous.

Melchior wrote: You have to understand what they meant by 'equal', which does not mean equally prosperous.

I don't think anybody would take issue with this, regardless of their political persuasion. I'm sure most would agree that "equal" means equal rights and equal opportunities. Equal rights can easily be accommodated within a system of laws but equal opportunities are not so simply guaranteed. Nobody in their right mind could honestly claim that a child born to a crack whore and her pimp boyfriend in a Chicago ghetto is equal in terms of opportunity to a child born to middle-class parents in an affluent leafy suburb. I'm not suggesting that the solutions are easily achievable but the problems are easily identifiable.

Obvious Leo wrote:

Melchior wrote: You have to understand what they meant by 'equal', which does not mean equally prosperous.

I don't think anybody would take issue with this, regardless of their political persuasion. I'm sure most would agree that "equal" means equal rights and equal opportunities. Equal rights can easily be accommodated within a system of laws but equal opportunities are not so simply guaranteed. Nobody in their right mind could honestly claim that a child born to a crack whore and her pimp boyfriend in a Chicago ghetto is equal in terms of opportunity to a child born to middle-class parents in an affluent leafy suburb. I'm not suggesting that the solutions are easily achievable but the problems are easily identifiable.

One thing to be wary of is that everybody has the same rights, but everyone is repressed. The far more important phrase is 'certain unalienable rights'. I don't think being equally miserable is a good thing.