Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2020

Equality in Theory and Practice

A Moral Argument for Ethical Improvements

Authors:

  • A highly original work by a leading legal scholar, bringing a multifaceted and nuanced perspective to the topic of equality
  • Provides a detailed and expansive review of literature relating to quantifying ethics
  • Makes novel recommendations in both theory and practice for improving equality

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xviii
  2. Introduction to Equality

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 1-18
  3. Physical Matters

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 19-32
  4. Psychological Approaches

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 33-48
  5. Personality

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 49-62
  6. Culture

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 63-76
  7. Business

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 77-89
  8. Communication

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 91-104
  9. Corruption

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 105-118
  10. Politics

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 119-137
  11. Sex Differences

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 139-150
  12. Slavery

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 151-165
  13. Quantification of Social Variables

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 167-177
  14. Theories

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 179-199
  15. General Conclusions

    • Ronald Francis
    Pages 201-219
  16. Back Matter

    Pages 221-235

About this book

This book is an account of the concept of equality from the perspective of both theory and practice, and presents methods of quantifying values. It considers both arguments and evidence, and tackles equality in its different forms, including economic equality, education, equality before the law, equality of opportunity, and gender equality. The book shows that inequality is a profoundly moral question, noting that there are good practical reasons for its adoption. It presents a consideration of classical theories from Aristotle to Hume, as well as contemporary approaches such as those offered by Rawls, Haidt, Temkin, and Parfit. It also contemplates issues such as the naturalistic fallacy, and considers what is different about the Goleman view of moral sensitivity and the ethical personality. The array of evidence includes the impact of climate and various plants such as sugar and cotton on the slave trade, the concept of Gaia, Darwinism, sex inequality, personality, culture, psychological issues, and the quantification of ethics. The book concludes with some practical suggestions for improving equality. It aims to raise awareness of the ways in which equality can be understood, and achieved. It will be relevant to students and scholars in philosophy, human rights, and law.


Reviews

   

Authors and Affiliations

  • Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

    Ronald Francis

About the author

Ronald D Francis is an emeritus professor in the College of Law and Justice at Victoria University in
 Melbourne, Australia. He received his first degrees at Canterbury, Christchurch, completed a PhD in experimental psychology at the University of Melbourne and the Post Graduate Diploma in Criminology at Cambridge. He has worked in several universities in Victoria and NSW and has held several Visiting Fellowships at Cambridge He has been supervisor of a number of doctoral candidates. Additional experience includes years as a Justice of the Peace with Bench experience, appearance in court as an expert witness, three years as Chairman of a national ethics committee and ten years on the Victorian Department of Justice, Research Ethics Committee. Has also been a co-recipient of an ARC research grant, as well as other grants. 

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access