Liberty: The Other Equality Equality of authority. OCTOBER 01,
2005 by RODERICK T. LONG Equality is an ideal upheld by a number
of ideologies, but nowadays it is seldom associated with
libertarianism or classical liberalism. Indeed, both
libertarians and their critics typically think of equality as an
ideal in tension with the ideal of liberty as libertarians
understand it. But what is meant by “equality”? Some thinkers
draw a distinction between formal equality and substantive
equality, where formal equality means something like mere
equality before the law—the same laws applying equally to
everyone—while substantive equality requires abolishing, or at
least greatly reducing, differences in wealth, opportunity, or
influence. The latter sort of equality—we might also call it
socioeconomic equality—is obviously incompatible with
libertarianism, at least if such equality is sought through
coercive legislation.1 Legislation aiming at socioeconomic
equality is rejected by libertarians as an unwarranted and
social