Equality
(Malik Speaking)

 
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All of the types of equality (or inequality) you've listed are politically important; and I agree that we have to distinguish them and further analyze each of them.

The word "equality" is subtly ambiguous. Think of equality of taxation. What is it? Does it mean that everyone pays the same number of dollars in taxes? Or does it mean that they pay the same percent of their income as tax? Or that everyone bears an equally heavy burden (which might mean a higher percent for people with higher incomes)? To conservatives equal taxation means one thing, to liberals another. So what is equality?

Each political perspective has its own definition of the politically important kinds of equality. Classical and modern liberalism, for example, have their own views of each kind of equality that John mentioned; and I tend to disagree. Concepts like equality and freedom have been called "essentially contested concepts." They are so important philosophically and politically that we constantly debate their contents.
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