Equity - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Equity, a concept as old as civilization itself, represents more than simple equality; it is the nuanced pursuit of fairness, acknowledging differing needs and circumstances to ensure just outcomes. Often confused with equality—uniformity of treatment—equity demands a deeper understanding of context, inviting us to question whether treating everyone the same truly yields what is right.
The seeds of equity can be traced back to ancient Greece, its tendrils intertwining with the dialogues of Plato and Aristotle. While not explicitly termed "equity" as we understand it today, the concept of epieikeia, found in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (c. 350 B.C.E.), embodies a similar idea. This concept wrestled with the inflexibility of law, arguing for the necessity of interpretation and adjustment when strict adherence would result in injustice. Aristotle, ever the observer of human nature, likely debated with Socrates about these issues, and reminds us of the limitations of rigid systems and the vital role of human judgment in achieving fairness.
Over centuries, equity evolved through various legal and philosophical interpretations. The English Court of Chancery, emerging in the late medieval period, formalized equity as a distinct body of law to address the rigidity of common law. Figures like Sir Thomas More, serving as Lord Chancellor in the 16th century, navigated the complexities of balancing legal precedent with moral considerations, setting precedents that shaped the Anglo-American legal landscape. During the Enlightenment, philosophers like John Locke grappled ethical obligation, leading to modern justice theory and questions of equality vs equity. It is through this process that we recognize that true justice may require differentiated action. Yet, debates persist: is equity merely a subjective interpretation influenced by cognitive bias, or can objective morality be achieved?
Today, equity permeates discussions across law, economics, and social justice. It informs affirmative action policies, shapes debates and thought experiments around distributive justice fairness bias, and influences approaches to closing wealth gaps. However, the specter of virtue signaling haunts these discussions, prompting skepticism. Equity prompts us to confront uncomfortable truths, stirring dialogues about our obligation to one another, and asking us to consider how a just society must grapple with the myriad forms of disadvantage to reach true fairness. This ongoing pursuit of equity serves as a constant reminder of the distance between our ideals and our realities, and a prod to continue critically examining both moral relativism and moral absolutist principles in an ever-changing world.