On the Equality of People

[picarpo]

It is dangerous to confuse society's beliefs with one's own. The opinions a society should hold should sometimes be, as in the case of the Equality of People, contrary to the the individual's.

Society should believe that everyone is equal. But to do so disregards individuality. Even "different but equal" puts everyone in the same category.

Comments

[picarpo]

I believe you are right! when you say I am "forgetting that society is nothing more than the combined activity of individuals". In this entry I was considering society as acting in its official (political) capacity. I think I was in the mindset of political philosophy, and in hindsight I needed to specify this, so as not to include such parts of society as "public opinion", to which this entry really doesn't apply.

I was elaborating a specific point about my belief in the necessary separation of public and private ethics. That is, I consider it just for people to act under different moral codes in their private life than when they act publicly in an official capacity. For example, under this belief, a policeman can personally like some people he meets more than others, but should not let his personal feelings affect how he acts as a representative of the law. Now one could argue at what times a person such as a policeman represents the law; some would say all the time. But I don't think this is at all what you are getting at.

To address something closer to what you were saying: I do believe that sometimes people should act differently in groups -- to the extent that the group is like a society. By that, I mean that the group must be working together in some sort of conscious unity. Then "leader" of that group, should see everyone as equal. It is a corollary to this that he should do what it is the best interest of the group, and not himself. (He could, if he wanted, be greedy and act in his own interest over those of the group, but then he would not be a good representative of the group). However, I don't think this sort of situation is likely to arise in everyday, casual gatherings of groups of people.

Upon further thought, hopefully I can address something even closer to what you are saying: in this entry I make the distinction between belief and action. That is, I can consider you to be of little value; but I still might act friendly towards you when I see you because I find it practical (e.g. to avoid unnecessary confrontation). Now there are further philosophical inquiries to be made here -- but I didn't try to go into them in my entry.