Equality
A notion that must be complemented by that of fraternity
October 27th 2015
The French Republic’s motto is ‘liberty, equality, fraternity’. Let’s discuss equality. Human beings are not equal by nature: some are born with a strong constitution, good intellectual faculties or artistic talents, while others are born disabled or limited in every way. This word ‘equality’, which is written on so many public buildings in France, represents of course equality before the law. That’s fine, but let’s just look at the following example: a heavy fine for speeding will not affect a billionaire in the same way it will affect someone who has just enough to live on. Even equality before the law does not make humans equal.
Equality must therefore always be complemented by fraternity, which is also part of the Republic’s motto. Equality is only possible thanks to fraternity, for humans are not equal anywhere except in dignity. This dignity comes from the fact that they are all sons and daughters of God and therefore all brothers and sisters. This means that not only do the very privileged feel they belong to the same family as the very poor, but the very poor also feel of equal worth to the very privileged and even to the greatest sages and geniuses.