Levelling the Playing Field: The Idea of Equal Opportunity and its Place in Egalitarian Thought (Oxford Political Theory) - Hardcover

Mason, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0199264414 ISBN 13: 9780199264414

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 2006

Synopsis

"Equality of opportunity for all" is a fine piece of political rhetoric but the ideal that lies behind it is slippery to say the least. Some see it as an alternative to a more robust form of egalitarianism, whilst others think that when it is properly understood it provides us with a real radical vision of what it is to level the playing field. This book combines a meritocratic conception of equality of opportunity that governs access to advantaged social positions, with redistributive principles that seek to mitigate the effects of differences in people's circumstances. Taken together, these spell out what it is to level the playing field in the way that justice requires.

Oxford Political Theory presents the best new work in contemporary political theory. It is intended to be broad in scope, including original contributions to political philosophy, and also work in applied political theory. The series will contain works of outstanding quality with no restriction as to approach or subject matter.
Series Editors: Will Kymlicka, David Miller, and Alan Ryan

About this title

Review

...an interesting and resourceful contribution to a key topic of political philosophy. (Political Studies Review)

About the Author

Lecturer in Philosophy University of Reading, 1993-8 Lecturer in Politics, University of Hull, 1991-3 British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Social Studies, University of Oxford, 1989-91 Lecturer in Moral Philosophy, University of St Andrews, 1987-8

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0199264414
• ISBN 13: 9780199264414
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 256