The Illusions of Egalitarianism

In this systematic and scathing attack on the dominant contemporary version of liberalism, John Kekes challenges political assumptions shared by the majority of people in Western societies. Egalitarianism, as it's widely known, holds that a government ought to treat all citizens with equal consideration. Kekes charges that belief in egalitarianism rests on illusions that prevent people from facing unpleasant truths.Kekes, a major voice in modern political thought, argues that differences among human beings in the areas of morality, reasonability, legality, and citizenship are too important for governance to ignore. In a rigorous criticism of prominent egalitarian thinkers, including Dworkin, Nagel, Nussbaum, Rawls, Raz, and Singer, Kekes charges that their views present a serious threat to both morality and reason. For Kekes, certain inegalitarian truths are obvious: people should get what they deserve, those who are good and those who are evil should not be treated as if they had the same moral worth, people should not be denied what they have earned in order to benefit those who have not earned it, and individuals should be held responsible for their actions. His provocative book will compel many readers to question their faith in liberalism.

Author: John Kekes
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Published: 11/06/2003
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.07lbs
Size: 9.24h x 6.38w x 0.84d
ISBN: 9780801441905

Review Citation(s):
Choice 07/01/2004 pg. 2124

About the Author

John Kekes is Professor of Philosophy at the State University of New York, Albany. He is the author of eleven previous books, most recently Pluralism in Philosophy: Changing the Subject and The Art of Life, both from Cornell.