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Philosophy Ethics & Moral Philosophy

Is Equal Opportunity Enough

by (author) Christine Sypnowich

Publisher
Haymarket Books
Initial publish date
Jun 2023
Category
Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Essays, General
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781946511829
    Publish Date
    Jun 2023
    List Price
    $30.5

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Description

Equal opportunity is a widely shared ideal. As Joe Biden put it in his first executive order as president, “equal opportunity is the bedrock of American democracy.”
But is equal opportunity enough? Does it truly capture the meaning of equality? In a neoliberal age that prizes personal responsibility and individual merit, the ideal has been increasingly called into question. Taking equality seriously, critics argue, means aiming to ensure that we all live equally flourishing lives—not merely that we have equal shots at upward mobility. That means rethinking a range of social institutions, from education and land ownership to finance and neighborhood development. Featuring work by philosophers and economists, historians and sociologists, this issue explores the importance of outcomes, not just opportunities.

About the author