Egalitarianism and Anti-Egalitarianism

How do we argue for equality today? How did we argue for equality in the past? This class will introduce students to egalitarian and anti-egalitarian thought and to contemporary conceptions of equality. It will provide an in-depth introduction to the concepts and arguments deployed when inequalities are discussed by philosophers, economists, scientists, and politicians. The class will present a diversity of perspectives: from 19th century racialism to Rousseau's Second Discourse and Social Contract, to African socialism and Rawlsian and post-Rawlsian egalitarianism, and more.