Should Equality Take Precedence Over Liberty in a Just Social Order?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether equality should take precedence over liberty in a just social order. Participants explore the implications of prioritizing equality, particularly in relation to concepts of justice, order, and the potential for anarchy.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that without equality, liberty cannot truly exist, arguing that unchecked liberty can lead to situations where individuals can impose their will on others, thus negating liberty for some.
  • Another participant echoes the sentiment that liberty without equality results in a form of control rather than true freedom, suggesting that this scenario resembles government rather than anarchy.
  • A further clarification is made regarding the definition of anarchy, indicating that it refers to a lack of national governance rather than the absence of any form of control.
  • One participant concludes that if liberty without equality equates to a lack of liberty, then the concept of liberty without equality is rendered impossible.
  • Another participant critiques utilitarianism, suggesting that it is not as sound a moral framework as it appears, proposing pragmaticism as an alternative.
  • A later reply points out that one participant's argument may be circular, as their proposed solution to achieve equality involves coercion, which is the very issue they are trying to address.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between liberty and equality, with some arguing that equality must precede liberty while others challenge the definitions and implications of these concepts. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives present.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on various definitions of equality and liberty, and there are unresolved assumptions regarding the implications of prioritizing one over the other. The discussion also touches on the complexities of governance and the nature of coercion.

wasteofo2
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In a just social order, equality ought to take precedence over liberty.

I'm starting this thread as grounds for a civil debate.

Topic:
In a just social order, the principle of equality ought to take precedence over that of liberty.

Here's my take on the subject and a general form to follow for your first statement about your beliefs.



Due to the fact that I value both liberty and equality, I must affirm the statement "In a just social order, the principle of equality ought to take precedence over that of liberty. "

My vaules are protection of life and utilitarianism.

When referring to a just social order I'll be referring to a society in which the ideals of the western world are fully realized. When referring to liberty, I'll be referring to freedom of actions in general.

My first contention is thus: In the absence of equality, liberty can not truley exist.

Subpoint A: In a society where all have the liberty to do whatever they want and there is no regulation of actions to try to keep all equal, people can do most anything they want. Person A could force Person B into slavery through use of physical force and thus eliminate Person B's liberty to do what he wants, thus negating the principle of liberty throughout the society.

Subpoint B: With no enforcements of equality, employers could act however they want. They could refuse to pay their employees and the employees could become poor and loose all of their financial liberty. They would have no money to buy food, clothing or pay for any nessecity of life and could, as a result, die.

Me second contention is thus: Liberty without equality is anarchy.

An anarchistic society can not be one which also has just social order. Without equality there is no order and people can do whatever they want, including killing of people en masse, which is hardly a sign of just social order.

In conclusion: Justice and order cannot be accomplished with the people of a society having liberty and not equality, as they would have the liberty to destroy the freedoms of others and thus liberty would not exist.
 
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Liberty without equality is anarchy.

Liberty without equality means that some people can take away other's liberties. It means some people control other people- which really isn't anarchy but government, isn't it?
 
Originally posted by Sikz
Liberty without equality means that some people can take away other's liberties. It means some people control other people- which really isn't anarchy but government, isn't it?

When I said anarchy I meant a lack of a national government responsible for governing all the people of the nation.
 
In conclusion: Justice and order cannot be accomplished with the people of a society having liberty and not equality, as they would have the liberty to destroy the freedoms of others and thus liberty would not exist.

Since liberty without equality = no liberty, you've essentially proved liberty without equality impossible, not just ineffective.
 
Its been a while since I last saw a Lincoln-Douglas debate...

By the way, Utilitarianism (the theory that actions are deemed morally right if they bring the greatest good to the greatest number) is not as intelligent as it sounds, instead I recommend a value such as Pragmaticism...
 
I just can't resist this. WasteofO2 is begging the question in the correct sense, since his fix for equality has precisely the fault (coercion) that required the fix in the first place.
 
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
I just can't resist this. WasteofO2 is begging the question in the correct sense, since his fix for equality has precisely the fault (coercion) that required the fix in the first place.

Yeah, I agree.
 

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