Because most philosophies that frown on reproduction don't survive.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Difference and Equality

Individualism is one of those terms which a great many people use in a great many different ways, so it has been with interest that I've been reading Individualism and Economic Order by F. A. Hayek. The book is a collection of essays dealing the individualism, its definition and its place in the economic order.

From the first essay, "Individualism: True and False" comes an interesting thought:

There is all the difference in the world between treating people equally and attempting to make them equal. While the first is the condition of a free society, the second means, as De Tocqueville described it, "a new form of servitude."
(Individualism and the Economic Order p. 14-15)

This strikes me as touching on the sense in which classical liberals in the tradition of Burke and Smith can still be considered "conservative" in the old sense of the term. Although Burke is commonly accepted by those who argue that classical liberalism is not "truly conservative" as being conservative in his outlook because of his reaction to the French Revolution, he was (like Smith) Whig, though they were Old Whigs, not True Whigs or Country Whigs. Prior to the French Revolution, Burke had been generally supportive of the cause of the colonists in the American Revolution.

Taking Hayek's point, classical liberals in the tradition of Burke and Smith do not reject the necessary hierarchy of society. Nor do they embrace sudden, transformative social change. As such, they can certainly be seen as conservative. However, they do seek sufficient freedom within society to allow people to "find their own level", believing that there is a natural hierarchy of ability which will thus result in an ordered society, and a more desirable one than one in which hierarchy comes strictly from birth and rank.

In this sense, the freedom of a classical liberal society creates social order, and a more stable one than the sort that an ancien regime conservatism maintains. Indeed, arguably, at this point in history, it is only this Whig-ish conservatism which is commonly found within society. Ancien regime conservatism has virtually died out.

Entirely different are notions of politics or the human person in which it is held which all people are truly and fully equal -- in ability and inclination as well as in human dignity. Such systems would indeed seem to lead quickly to a most undesirable oppression.


Paul Zummo said...

Excellent post, and a very good way of making some distinctions that fly over people's heads.

Cliff said...

Interesting you should post these thoughts following the announcement of an upcoming "addition".

Think of it this way - You have five children, each has their unique talents & foibles, yet hopefully each is treated equally by their parents.

Amber said...

This seems at least tangentially related to something I've been thinking about. We recently re-listened to A Little Princess and I'm always struck by the themes of equality and inherited position in this book. Several time the main character emphasizes to her friend the scullery maid that they are both little girls, and as such are just alike. However, it is completely taken for granted that it is ok for Sarah to have a mysterious room make-over, surprise meals waiting in her room, etc. while Becky (the maid) gets nothing. The others see Sarah's sharing of her good fortune as a comment on her goodness, and it doesn't seem to strike anyone's thoughts that perhaps they should also make a nice bed and a fire in Becky's room too! Becky is perfectly content with Sarah's cast-off bed and an extra blanket from her bed, as well as sharing in her secret meals. There's an implicit assumption that while they are both little girls, one has, by birth/breeding, more right to these nice things than the scullery maid.

If this book was written today, I can just see Becky falling into jealous fits because she didn't get everything Sarah got. After all, aren't they both little girls, equally deserving?? Not to mention the involvement of CPS and the police because of Miss Minchion's employment of and working conditions for such young girls!