Is Equality Valuable? Is Inequality Unjust?
These considerations bring us back to Rousseau’s claims about inequality and disparity: His famous assertion that it is contrary to the law of nature for some people to “gorge themselves on superfluities” while others lack basic necessities. This is usually understood as a defense of equality, and it is certain the Rousseau took himself to be condemning inequality. But perhaps it is not inequality as such that is objectionable. Imagine an extremely wealthy society in which the worst off members are aswell off as the Sultan of Brunei (currently the wealthiest person in the world, with holdings valued at about 37 billion US dollars). Suppose, that this society is marked by radical inequalities: the very best off members of this society are so wealthy that their wealth makes the Sultan of Brunei’s wealth tiny in comparison. If inequality is unjust in itself, then it would follow that this society must be seriously unjust. But it’s hard to work up much moral indignation about the situation
