HARRIS 1
Egalitarianism:
A TOPIC BRIEF
Virtue Harris
Government 329: B02 LUO
February 12, 2018
Egalitarianism is known as the doctrine, which states that all mankind is equal and
all people deserve equal rights and equal opportunities. 1 In other words, egalitarianism
means that all men and all women have a common association in society and they are all
equality, no one is to be put above another. Egalitarianism, within Christianity views is a
movement based on the theological views that not only are all people equal before God in
their personhood, but there are no gender-limitations.2 The equality of this nature aids
society in changing for the better, removing labels, social bridges, discrimination of race,
and not putting the rich above the poor.
Over the past few centuries, the issue of equality has plagued America. Charles
Murray states that inequality in America is far greater than inequality in Europe.
“American egalitarianism is all about rhetoric, not concrete measures to equalize material
well-being. The traditional unconcern of most Americans about economic inequality is
evidence of American moral backwardness.” 3 Inequality has influenced civil laws and
liberty. It has filled man’s heart with hate and caused them to wage wars against one
another. It has led to the massacres, genocides and resulted in many countless and
unnecessary deaths. There should be no hesitation when looking at other members in or
society of different race or different income as your equal.
I chose equalitarianism as my topic for my research paper because the subject of
equality is prevalent in society today. Yes, all people are created yet, are they treated
equal? Over the past few centuries, some of America has been plagued with hatred of one
other, enslaving them and treating them poorly because of their color, financial standing,
or race. Is equalitarianism practiced in society this day in time? People agree that all
1 Merriam Webster Dictionary “Egalitarianism Definition.” (2017)
2 Theopedia. “Egalitarianism.”
3 Murray, Charles. “American Exceptionalism
Harris 2
HARRIS 3
mankind is created equal but they will judge someone on their outward appearance
because they have been conditioned to do so. I believe that inequality is more prevalent
than equality do to the conditioning in the world today. We, being sinners people have yet
to see people as God sees them. God did in fact make all men equal, “There is neither
Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are
all one in Christ Jesus.”4
In this essay I want to not only define egalitarianism but, I want to also explain
how egalitarianism is being used in society today and when it first was debut. Charles
Murray says that the egalitarianism of nineteenth-century America had nothing to do with
equality of human dignity. 5 I want to discuss if egalitarianism has had a negative effect
on society has a whole or a negative one. I also want to discuss if people actually believe
in what egalitarianism stands for.
4 Nelson, Thomas. “King James Bible: Galatians 3:28.” (1991)
5 Murray, Charles. “American Exceptionalism: In Experiment in History.” (2013)
