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Relationship between equality and liberty. - Nandan Dutta

Relationship between equality and liberty.

by - April 12, 2025

Relationship between equality and liberty.

Discuss how equality and freedom are related to each other.




Relationship between equality and freedom:-


Although political scientists like Lord Acton consider equality and freedom to be contradictory to each other, from a practical point of view it can be said that equality and freedom are not contradictory to each other at all; they are complementary to each other. Freedom can never develop fully if equality is not established in society. Because, people can only realize the rights of freedom when the necessary environment for its complete development exists in society. Therefore, the existence of freedom cannot be imagined without equality. The relationship between equality and freedom can be discussed from different perspectives. For example -

1. The nature of the relationship between equality and freedom in ancient and medieval times:-
In ancient and medieval times, freedom was considered more important than equality. In ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, etc., the slavery system was prevalent, so the issue of freedom gained more importance than equality. Thus, the importance of equality remained neglected until the Middle Ages. Even among the three natural rights that John Locke spoke about, the right to equality was not mentioned. Although some ancient and medieval Greek philosophers opposed the slavery system and emphasized the importance of equality, it did not gain special importance in political life.


2. Equality and freedom complement each other: -
The American Declaration of Rights in 1776 and the Declaration of the Rights of Citizens that emerged from the French Revolution in 1789 have mentioned the mutual importance of equality and freedom. In particular, there were three great ideals that emerged from the French Revolution - equality, fraternity and freedom. It is through this line of thought that the issue of the relationship between equality and freedom began to emerge. In addition, the political thought of San Simo, Robert Owen, Morley, etc. mentioned the relationship between equality and freedom.

3. Equality and freedom are contradictory: -
Lord Acton was one of the main proponents of this view that equality and freedom are contradictory. Later, Spencer, Leckie, etc. also followed the footsteps of Lord Acton and promoted equality and freedom as contradictory. The establishment of the principle of equality - the rich, the elite, the royal family, the clergy - undermines the interests of such individuals - so they also oppose equality. Leckie, in his famous book - Democracy and Liberty -, has mentioned democracy as opposed to freedom. He also said that the establishment of the principle of equality causes extreme damage to the mutual balance and dependence between the different classes in society.

4. Evolution of the concept of the relationship between equality and freedom in the 19th and 20th centuries:-
The concept of the relationship between equality and freedom evolved in the 19th century. One of the most prominent political scientists who contributed to this change was John Stuart Mill. He claimed that equality and freedom are complementary to each other. Following his footsteps, in the 20th century, political scientists such as Lasky, Barker and others promoted equality and freedom as complementary to each other. Philosopher Rousseau also advocated a similar view. Lasky said - true freedom cannot be established without equality.


5. Lasky's view:-
Lasky, in his book A Grammar of Politics, has identified economic equality as one of the conditions and elements of freedom. According to him, true freedom can never be established without economic equality. Political freedom is baseless without economic equality.
Lasky has emphasized the mutual coexistence of equality and freedom in society. According to him, true freedom will be effective only when the principle of equality is established in the participation of the people in social organization, political institutions, administration, policy-making, etc. Therefore, Lasky speaks of a society where equality is established in the economic sphere and private property is abolished.

6. Opinion of Marxists: -
Lasky and Marxists share the same view on the relationship between equality and freedom. According to Marxists, equality and freedom in society are essential for the existence of each other. If equality is not established in society, the state will become an instrument of class exploitation and one class of people will exploit another class using the state apparatus. Therefore, Marxists speak of the formation of a socialist society free from exploitation. Like Lasky, Marxists also claim that equality is the main condition for freedom.

7. Opinion of Barker: -
Barker considers both equality and freedom to be important for a society free from exploitation. Barker considers freedom to be the most important in human life and social life. He believes that freedom is essential for the full development of the inner being of man and that equality is essential for the proper realization of this freedom. Freedom cannot exist without equality. Barker, in his book Principles of Social and Political Theory, talks about the reconciliation of equality and freedom.

8. R. H. Tawney's opinion: -
Equality and freedom are both legal concepts. Equality can never be contrary to freedom. Freedom is protected by the state through law. The state establishes equality in society by ending the special privileges prevailing in the society. Only in a socialist system can the true coexistence of equality and freedom be possible. If the principle of equality is not established in the economic field, all kinds of social, political - etc. freedoms end in failure.

Finally, it can be said that equality and freedom are never opposed to each other; they are mutually supportive. The coexistence of equality and freedom can be observed in every liberal - democratic and socialist state. Freedom is necessary in society for the full development of human and the prerequisite for freedom is equality.

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