Political Theory

9

Principle of Equality

Introduction: Equity, Equality and Egalitarianism

In the last two chapters, we have discussed principles of liberty and rights. Individuals require rights and liberties for self-realization, development of human faculties or for self-mastery and carrying out their actions rationally and freely. Rights guarantee liberties and set limits of intervention by public authorities in the actions of the individuals and groups. For example, freedom of speech also means freedom of press and this puts limits on public authorities in regulating press. Liberty and rights, however, necessarily lead to a third principle in political theory, which is of equality. Equality determines how rights are to be distributed amongst the individuals ...