Equal Treatment for Equals

Even though there might be broad agreement in society that all people matter equally, it is not a simple matter to decide how to actually give each person his or her due. One of the principles put forward in this regard is treating equals equally. It holds that because all individuals share certain characteristics simply as human beings, they deserve equal rights and equal treatment.

Among the important rights granted in most liberal democracies today, guided by this principle, are civil rights such as the rights to life, liberty and property; political rights like the right to vote, which allow people to participate in political processes; and certain social rights, which include the right to enjoy equal opportunities with other members of society. …