How can equality and freedom coexist?

Answer 1

Extra ordinary question, Bob, I wonder what prompted it?

Absolutely...in its purest form equality ensures and guarantees freedom for all.

This of course presumes that you are talking about the behavior of rational, intelligent, healthy, and mature individuals.

If any one of those four elements is missing or diminished, then problems are certain to occur.

Answer 2

The sad, but true, answer to your question is that, without drastic changes to the world we live in, equality and freedom cannot and will not *exist*, never mind *coexist*. In the United States, we pledge ourselves to a flag representing a country believing in liberty for all. Yet how many people strive to amass as much personal wealth as possible, no matter the cost, no matter how many people they have to step on or push aside to get it? And though it pains me to state it, the United States is not alone in this. Far too many people in this world care only for themselves and their loved ones, leaving the rest of the world population to fend for itself. Neither equality nor freedom can exist in a world plagued by this kind of, at best, indifference, and at worst, hostility.

Should people suddenly, miraculously, see the error of their ways and make the necessary changes to the way they live, equality may be possible, and freedom would be inevitable. Will this ever happen? I doubt it, but I refuse to give up hope. Miracles can occur.

Answer 3

First you have to define your terms. If by "equality" you mean everyone is the same, then freedom is impossible. After all, if you know how to play the piano and I don't, then the only way for us to be "equal" is to prevent you from playing the piano. That's not freedom.

A more common definition of "equality" in a free society is "egalitarianism", which is the belief in the equal worth of all people, not that they are the same. The U.S. Declaration of Independence expresses this when it says "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." (Let's ignore for the sake of brevity how often this ideal was ignored.) In other words, we are equal when we are born, but not necessarily after that.

A natural outgrowth of egalitarianism is "equality of social and economic opportunity". "Freedom" cannot exist without this. hence the reference to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". In the United States, for example, there are all sorts of laws to guarantee equal rights and equal opportunity to apply for jobs, to prevent insider trading of stocks (i.e., equal information for all investors), and so forth. Thie idea is to give everyone a chance to succeed based on their own merits. Obviously, some people are healthier or smarter than others, are better athletes, have more ambition, or have other strengths that help them achieve success in life, so we aren't all equal in the sense of being the same even when we are free to do the best we can.

Answer 4

I can't see where the question comes from, because equality is a necessity for freedom to be ! So how can they not coexist?

Answer 5

equality means equal access to opportunity,,, and freedom means to be yourself, do as you want,,,,,,, so i dont see a conflict between those two,,,,,,,, as to freedom, and each person having freedom yet not stepping on someone elses freedom, that to me is where conflict occurs,,,,,, but im not seeing your question, i guess, as to a problem with equality and freedom,,,,, coexisting

Answer 6

Easily... by the elimination of property. If nobody owns anything, then you cancel out stature... which is the easy path to equality. The only merit one would have over another is by personal contribution to society - instead of accumulation of assets.

A brave new world that will only exist in our dreams.

Answer 7

It is in allowing others the same freedom as you desire/expect/have.

Answer 8

know that ea@ is a learned behaviorism and that they are not real and have to be bought and paid for to exist.

Answer 9

u should read "harrison Bergeron" ...i think thats how u spell it.... the author asks the same question ..its very interesting