Liberal Equality

by Amy Gutmann

Overview

This book makes a significant contribution to the tradition of liberal political theory: it explores the foundations and limits of the idea of equality within that theory and offers a sustained argument for a persuasive new view of liberalism. Liberal thinking has always displayed a tension between the claims of liberty and those of equality. Professor Gutmann examines the contributions of liberal theorists from Locke to Rawls on the subject of two kinds of equality - equality of opportunity to participate and the equal distribution of economic goods. Valuing both, she shows that, far from being alternatives, the two ideals are compatible to a much greater degree than has previously been thought. Liberal Equality restores egalitarianism to political theory in a way that will forcefully challenge its critics to deeper reflection.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521296656
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/30/1980
Pages:	332
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction: equality, liberty and liberal theory; 1. The classical liberal foundations; 2. J. S. Mill and participatory opportunity; 3. The Fabians and their allies: the minimal welfare state and beyond; 4. The relevant reasons for liberal egalitarianism; 5. John Rawls and distributive equality; 6. Contemporary critics of liberal egalitarianism: left and right; 7. Participatory and distributive equality reintegrated; Conclusion: the limits of liberal egalitarian politics; Notes; Bibliography; Index.