Equality: For and Against

Income and wealth inequalities are on the rise. A lot of the political debate in modern societies hinges on the following questions: is economic inequality a good or a bad thing? Should the government promote economic equality? If so, what kind of economic equality should we aim for? This course is an introduction to the philosophical debate about economic inequality and economic justice. We will explore different arguments to justify or object to inequalities ofincome and wealth, both at a national and a global level. We will start with a brief overview of the basic economic facts. Then we will explore how the justification of inequalities may depend on factors like talent and effort, luck, fair opportunities, or impact on democracy. We will also assess how equality articulates with other values, like freedom or efficiency, and other political goals, like race or gender justice. Finally, we will assess normative arguments for and against two policies to tackle economic inequality: universal basic income and tax reform.