The Philosophy Discussion Forum

Induction versus Deduction

When claiming that all people are equal, are you saying anything at all, when you do not even know how to measure for equality and thus form a just form of judgment? It seems to me, that if anyone claims to be fighting for freedom, they should at least fight for the correct measure of justice, but this has never happened in history.

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Phil8659 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 22, 2026 11:35 am Induction versus Deduction

When claiming that all people are equal, are you saying anything at all, when you do not even know how to measure for equality and thus form a just form of judgment?

It depends on who is saying that what it means, but the idea in the Declaration of Independence is that people (then men) are equal under the law. You're rich and you murder, you go to jail, just like anyone else. (no noble with special rights essentially). So, it's a declaration of intent. It doesn't mean you all have the same measurements in anything really. It's not a 'well we tested everyone and everyone's equal'. It's saying how people will be treated under the law. It's never quite happened but that's the ideal.

So, it is definitely not the claimed result of induction. But it's not really deduction either. I suppose someone could mount a deductive argument, but I think it's more of a vision statement. Here's how we want to play this.

Iwannaplato wrote: ↑Sun Mar 22, 2026 2:44 pmIt's saying how people will be treated under the law. It's never quite happened but that's the ideal.

As a famous pig once said,
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

Flannel Jesus wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 11:41 am As a famous pig once said,
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

As Michelle Wold once said,
"All men are created equal (by women)."

I think we can get there by either deduction or induction.