An Evaluation: Equal Liberty and Social Inequality

Abstract

Having presented a critique of Raymond Plant’s argument, we shall now proceed to investigate why he identified the concept of ‘helping those in need’ with a general principle of distribution. Two main assumptions of Plant’s played an important role in this identification: (1) that equal liberty entails an equal value of liberty, that is to say equality of conditions; (2) that markets do not provide for needs, but only, or mainly, for wants and preferences. This chapter is dedicated to the discussion of both.

Render possessions ever so equal, men’s different degrees of art, care, and industry will immediately break that equality. Or if you check these virtues, you reduce society to the most extreme indigence; and instead of preventing want and beggary in a few, render it unavoidable to the whole community. The most rigorous inquisition too is requisite to watch every inequality on its first appearance; and the most severe jurisdiction, to punish and redress it.

David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, 1751

Liberty is liberty, not equality or fairness or justice or human happiness or a quiet conscience.

Sir Isaiah Berlin, Two Concepts of Liberty, 1958