Complex equality
Encyclopedia
Complex equality is a theory of justice outlined by Michael Walzer
in his work Spheres of Justice
. The theory posits that inequalities in the several spheres of society should not invade one another.
Walzer's definition of complex equality is:
Michael Walzer
Michael Walzer is a prominent American political philosopher and public intellectual. A professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, he is co-editor of Dissent, an intellectual magazine that he has been affiliated with since his years as an undergraduate at...
in his work Spheres of Justice
Spheres of Justice
Spheres of Justice: A Defense of Pluralism and Equality is a book written by Michael Walzer .In it, Walzer argues in favour of an idea he calls "complex equality", and against the view that goods with different meaning and content can be lumped together into the larger category of primary goods, as...
. The theory posits that inequalities in the several spheres of society should not invade one another.
Walzer's definition of complex equality is:
“In formal terms, complex equality means that no citizen's standing in one sphere or with regard to one social good can be undercut by his standing in some other sphere".
Criticism
- Richard J. Arneson (1990), Against "Complex Equality", Public Affairs Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Apr. 1990), pp. 99-110