Economic Equality and Justice Concepts

Study Notes

### Economic Equality

Economic equality addresses disparities in wealth and opportunities, promoting equal access to essential resources like food, shelter, and healthcare.
Karl Marx argued for true economic equality only within a socialist, classless society.
John Maynard Keynes advocated for government intervention to reduce economic inequality and ensure full employment.
Amartya Sen believes economic equality is crucial for human development and achieving true freedom.
Friedrich Hayek opposed excessive government control, arguing that economic freedom leads to prosperity.
Thomas Piketty highlighted the growing economic inequality and advocated for progressive taxation to reduce wealth disparities.

Justice ensures fair treatment based on individual needs and circumstances, differentiating it from equal treatment.
Equal opportunities and access to resources are key to leveling the playing field.
Liberty can create inequalities due to varying individual capabilities and opportunities.
Limits on liberty can prevent excessive inequalities and ensure equality.

Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment based on gender, resulting in disparities in income, education, and political representation.
Racial inequality, stemming from biased treatment based on race or ethnicity, leads to unequal access to education, employment, healthcare, and political power.
Economic inequality refers to the growing gap between the rich and the poor, with wealth and income concentrating in the hands of a few.
Caste-based inequality, prevalent in countries like India, results in social and economic disparities based on a rigid caste system.

John Locke emphasized the natural, equal rights of all individuals to life, liberty, and property.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that true equality requires collective formation of laws by the general will.
Karl Marx believed true equality only exists in a classless society without economic disparities.
John Rawls proposed the "difference principle," which justifies inequality if it benefits the least advantaged.
Amartya Sen emphasizes equality in terms of individual capabilities and freedoms to pursue their values in life.

Civil rights movements primarily aimed to achieve racial equality for African Americans and other marginalized racial groups, combating segregation, discrimination, and unequal treatment.
Martin Luther King Jr advocated for racial equality and justice through non-violent civil disobedience.
Rosa Parks ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give up her seat, signifying a turning point in the fight against racial segregation.
Nelson Mandela fought against apartheid in South Africa, becoming a symbol for racial equality and justice worldwide.
Malcolm X advocated for Black empowerment and self-defense, emphasizing the importance of Black identity in the fight for racial justice.
W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent sociologist and civil rights activist, challenged racial prejudice and inequality in American society.