“The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.” -Aristotle Equality, nowadays, relates to status, rights, and opportunities, such as being able to vote and having a voice. But at what point does equality not have the meaning that we’ve been using for thousands of years? When does it stop becoming equality, and start turning into conformity and the loss of individuality? I agree with Aristotle’s quote, on the terms in which equality seems more like collectivism and the loss of one’s personality. Ayn Rand, the author of several books, had personally experienced equality turning into totalitarianism. She was there for several Russian revolutions and the growth of communism, which caused her to flee her home. In her
…show more content…
In their society, they must refer to themselves as ‘we’, as the banishment of the individual came with the promise of total equality. The protagonist of her story, Equality, questions this society, frees himself and runs away. When he regains his individuality, he says, “What is my joy if all hands, even the unclean, can reach into it? What is my wisdom, if even the fools can dictate to me? What is my freedom, if all creatures, even the botched and impotent, are my masters? What is my life, if I am but to bow, to agree and to obey?”(11.2.Rand). He asks what is the point having the traits that make us human if he has to share his individuality with everyone else? This supports Aristotle’s claim by showing how he had to question his life and humanity because of the conformist society he lived in. Equality also says, “We are nothing. Mankind is all. By grace of our brothers we are allowed our lives. We exist through, by and our brothers who are the State”(1.21.Rand). Equality had to repeat this every morning, and remind himself that he is part of this society, where everything must be
In their society, they must refer to themselves as ‘we’, as the banishment of the individual came with the promise of total equality. The protagonist of her story, Equality, questions this society, frees himself and runs away. When he regains his individuality, he says, “What is my joy if all hands, even the unclean, can reach into it? What is my wisdom, if even the fools can dictate to me? What is my freedom, if all creatures, even the botched and impotent, are my masters? What is my life, if I am but to bow, to agree and to obey?”(11.2.Rand). He asks what is the point having the traits that make us human if he has to share his individuality with everyone else? This supports Aristotle’s claim by showing how he had to question his life and humanity because of the conformist society he lived in. Equality also says, “We are nothing. Mankind is all. By grace of our brothers we are allowed our lives. We exist through, by and our brothers who are the State”(1.21.Rand). Equality had to repeat this every morning, and remind himself that he is part of this society, where everything must be