The belief in equality as the basis of a just society is fundamental to the dominant western, liberal viewpoint. Yet, the standard individualist justification for it is weak and contradictory. This book provides a radically new communitarian account of the value of equality and establishes it's proper limits.
"Charvet sets out to provide us with not only a detailed account of basic equality and where it originates, but also to present us with a new and unique account of how basic equality and egalitarian political ethics, that is the equal distribution of equal rights and duties amongst free citizens, go together. ... Charvet's book is an intriguing read for all those interested in questions of basic equality ... ." (Fabian Schuppert, Res Publica, Vol. 22, 2016)