对平等与不平等问题的理性思考

平等观念的产生与发展,从古希腊的亚里士多德、古罗马的西塞罗到近代的洛克和卢梭,从权利平等到“法律面前人人平等”,经历了一个漫长的演变过程。到了近、现代,人类对平等的追求又走进了只强调程序平等与大搞平均主义的误区。平等是一个社会历史范畴,有其自身运动规律。人们追求平等的社会实践活动也有其运动规律。平等是一种社会理想,为实现平等,必须找到理想与现实的结合点。这个结合点就是没有阶级差别的差别。现实的平等只能在结果不平等条件下去追求机会平等,使前程对每个人开放。

The Rational Reflection on Equality and Unequality

The concept of equality, ever since its birth, has experienced a long process of evolution. From Aristoteles (384 B. C - 322 B. C. ) and Cicero (106 B. C - 43 B. C) to JohnLocke (1632 - 1704) and Jean J. Rousseau (1712 - 1778), the concept of equality has beendeveloped from the "equality of rights" to the "individual equality before the law". In moderntimes, the concept of equality has been misunderstood as procedural equality and equalitarianism. As a social and historical category, equality has its own law of motion. Consequently, the human social practice in pursuing equality has its own law of motion. As a social ideal, equality is to be realized through the connecting point between ideal and reality, which is the difference with no class difference. Equality in reality can only be achieved by pursuing opportunity equality under the result unequality so as to make the prospect open to every individual.