平等何时变得重要?

基于平等概念自身的反对不平等的理由是平均主义的,即差距本身就可以构成反对这种差距的理由。平均主义理由有两个必不可少的特征,即比较性和利益水准的不确定性。平均主义的理由是多样的,它们至少包括人道主义的理由,反对社会歧视的理由,反对他人控制的理由,保证政治、经济制度公平性的理由,要求利益平等的理由。要想真正实现机会平等和政治平等的要求,经济分配就需要尽可能地接近结果平等。平等变得重要的一个首要条件是存在着一个对利益平等要求负责的政府机构。在某些情况下,平等似乎有争议,但分歧实际上并不是关于平等的价值或重要性,而是关于政府恰当的责任。

When Does Equality Matter

We have many different reasons for being opposed to inequality. Only some of these reasons are egalitarian-that is to say, grounded in a concern with equality as a positive value. And even those that are egalitarian reasons are diverse-they have different bases and demand different things. If we recognize this diversity and bear it in mind, we will be in a better position to understand controversies about equality and to decide what to think about them. In some cases equality seems to be controversial the disagreement is not really about the value or importance of equality but rather about some other question, about the proper responsibility of governments.