Supreme Virtue -- Theory and Practice of Equality: Theory and Practice of Equality

Author: Ronald Dworkin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: This book focuses on the most important, and also the cornerstone of Dworkin's theory of equality, the "auction model." This model assumes that all members of a society gather on a desert island. To establish an equal society, everyone uses an equal amount of shells as bidding capital to auction off the island's resources and all factors affecting welfare. To meet the "envy test" standard, this auction is repeated until no one envies others' gains in the auction, at which point an ideal model of equality is achieved. In Dworkin's view, equality must be measured by resources and opportunities rather than welfare or happiness. Freedom is not the freedom to do anything one pleases, but the freedom to act in a way that respects others' rights. A community cannot be built on the basis of vague or confused personal freedom and responsibility, but only on the basis of a shared and genuine respect for both freedom and responsibility.