Are we all born equal?

Question

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

It depends what you mean by "equal." The question needs more refinement to be answered specifically. That said, as a general rule, the answer is "Yes," but with significant qualifications, not the least being that just because we are born equal it does not necessarily follow that we will be treated equally.

To start, the underlying assumption of Western civilization since ancient Greece is that human beings are of the same nature. Nature not meaning what a being does "spontaneously," but rather what of its nature it has the potential to become.

Raise a baby wolf to be the best wolf it can be, it will still be a wolf. Of its nature, it will never be anything other than a wolf. Raise a human baby to be the best human it can be, and it may write sonnets or cure cancer. The baby becomes the boy becomes the man becomes the gentleman. Of man's nature, he has the potential to exceed that which he began as being. All men share that nature equally.

That said, nature must be nurtured. It is not either/or. Rather nature and nurture are the but two facets of the same nature and all humans share that capacity equally. From that then, is extrapolated natural law and thus natural rights. All human beings have such rights equally - see also the Declaration of Independence.

This, by the way, is part of the reason why the abortion question tears so much at American culture. It cuts to the very essence of the idea of the equality of rights. It is why the courts and the law have turned hand stands to avoid defining the moment when life begins and why the limits to abortion are constantly being tested and re-defined. Going from third trimester to varying stages of viability and so on.

If the human being is not defined as being human until a certain point in time, then presumably before that time it is not human and has no rights, including no right to life. Yet, if it is human than the idea of equality of rights is shredded. The problem being that there is no empirical point in time when the characteristic of humanity is definitive.

Example: What is the difference in the fetus - both scientifically and philosophically/morally - one second before the third trimester and one second after? Suffice to say, that is something that the law and the culture do not want to touch with a 20 foot poll. Thus, the controversy - at an almost existential level with profound implications for America's most central principles - endures.

That said, equality in laws and morals does not equal practical equality. A baby born into a wealthy family will, on the whole and all other things being equal, do better. He/she will be raised more consistently, will be exposed to more words as parents are more apt to read to it.

Thus the baby will develop a greater capacity to use words and thus grasp higher concepts and thereby inculcate greater greater habits of self-control and self-discipline. This all conducing to greater educational attainment and therefore likely greater material success in life - and likely an ability to form more stable social relationships.

Indeed, there is a film that is almost agonizing to watch. It came out of a study done by I believe it was Harvard. A low income single mother is taking care of her baby. The baby keeps reaching out to the mother. The mother is not being unkind, but she keeps the baby away from her. The mother, not realizing that the baby is seeking physical contact with her, seeks to feed the baby and otherwise care for it, but physical contact is minimal.

These habits, repeated across generations, have profound effects of which social scientists have outlined some of the most significant implications. A lack of bonding and an absence of empathy not being least and that repeated millions of times can result in massive social dysfunction.

CONT.

SirRexington · Accepted Answer

This a far more difficult question to be answered than the layman's, "no" or "yes". First we must realize that equality does not mean identicality. It does not mean everyone is identical. So then what does mean? In this context are referring to inherent worth? Equal rights to life and the pursuit of happiness? Equal opportunity but nothing else? Equal in importance to society?

I'd argue it's a mix of all of these. Let's talk about equal importance and contribution. While we may believe a doctor is more important than a fast food worker in the economy, we fail to account for the fact that fast food workers are responsible for feeding literally hundreds of millions of people a day. That's a very important economic function. Though one could argue because it's easier to replace anfast food worker that that makes the inherently worth less in the market.

Now let's ask if when we talk about equality are we even necessarily speaking about the market or are we just talking about social equality? Social equality is the idea that everyone is treated fairly and is given equal chance. How do we grant this? Well, free market capitalists would suggest we all start from the bottom and make our way up, somehow accumulating resources along the way to further your ascension. Communists would suggest that everyone have equal access and ownership to resources to use for their own benefit and to attempt in achieving personal self actualization.

Then we must look into the situational circumstances that place value on items, ideas and people. A persons skill might be worth more in one scenario but not another's. Is he then, less equal? Does he lose the right to same privileges as the group whole?

Then there is behaviors society values above others. Altruism, kindness, tenacity, courage, honor and respect are highly valued and viewed superior to behaviors such as greed, exploitation, disrespect of others, immaturity, violence. Is a man who rapes 29 women equal to a man who saves them from fires? If not, why? If so, why? I'd argue that a person who causes great harm to others in the community has proven he is inferior to me and others who not engage in said behavior. So then it's based on contribution? But what if this rapist works 50 hours a week, owns large successful business that employs thousands of people and donates thousands more dollars to cancer research? Is he still equal? Was he ever equal? The women he raped, likely of less status than him, are/were they considered not equal due to their lack if financial status? What determines equality? There are many things that determine it. Often times it's situational.

For me, equality means everyone has their basic needs met, they have a fair and equal chance at succeeding and have access to all the same resources as others to help them in that quest to success. But there are people who commit atrocious acts whose behavior has led me to believe they are inferior beings, making them unequal.

juliaanita · Accepted Answer

Well, we want to think that we are born with equal opportunity. And I suppose that under the law, that may be true.
But in reality i don't think that we are born at all equal. Some of us are born into royality. Some are born with the last name of Bezos or Gates. Some are born in Somalia. Some are born female and some, male.
Equality may be afterall, kind of a crap shoot and depends a whole lot on the circumstances of one's birth.
Maybe we are equal at birth.
But probably some are more equal than others.

AlienParasite · Accepted Answer

Mhhh, not really because to begin with not everybody is born in a wealthy family. Not everybody is born in a place with access to safe drinking water. Not everybody has access to good education only due to beign born in certain family or in certain part of the world. We should be considered equal by law, but we like it or not we can't choose where we are born and in which context, and that makes us all unique and different, and in the end... unequal.

hellionthesagereborn · Answer

Well you have to define equal, first. However if you are talking about one singular trait being equal among every one that is an obvious no. If your talking about talking the sum total of who the person is and comparing them to others, I would say still no but a much more grey no (i. e. their will be differences in ability and some people will have greater value over all but it won't be as great a gap as with judging individual abilities). If you are talking about importance in a specific sense, like for instance comparing the value of a janitor to a surgeon we can say the surgeon is more important BUT if we are comparing it big picture both are equally important (the greatest benefit and technological advancement that has saved the most lives in human history is ironically not medicine, its sanitation. So while the individual task one to one may not be as valuable as the creation of antibiotics, it as a whole is equally if not more important because it prevented disease to begin with. So how does one quantify that?). Are we talking about equal in that we are to give every one equal respect and kindness regardless of birth? Then yes we are all equal, we all have the same right to life and liberty as any one else. If you are talking about equal in that we are all regardless of possible advantages and disadvantages, still required to take responsibility for our lives and maximize the benefits we have to make a better life, then yes we are all equal in this respect. So the question is much more nuanced then that and really depends on how you are defining "equal".

menina · Answer

We all born equal in the sense that we all start as babies, we come from an uterus and we all born naked.
On the other hand some people are already privileged when they're born. Some people born into rich families, while others are already poor when they're born. Some are lucky enough to have loving and supportive parents while others are abandoned. There are others who are born in peaceful and "developed" countries while others are born in the middle of a war. Some are born healthy, while others are already sick...

Equality is a beautiful concept, but it doesn't exist.

taleswapper · Answer

"Do you think a last name can play a role in someone being born with privilege?" No! Because "privilege" isn't a real thing. Get that whole idea of "privilege" out of your head, and look at the issue again. "Do I think a last name can play a role in success or failure in a social endeavor? Yes! If your name is hard to spell, or pronounce, or even just "weird", people in your social group (whatever it is), will unconsciously avoid using it. My first name is "Edward". Exactly zero people call me that. They call me "Ed", Eddie" or "Ned". Even my wife. So I answer to "Ned," or "Ed"; easy to say, easy to spell. "Edward" only appears on official documents. It's not my name; just a label that refers to me sometimes.

noelic · Answer

No, we aren't born equal. Some people are born into privilege, others not. For a better picture, look at economics and ask yourself if you would have to spend less or more energy to get to the different states of economical prowess. That's one way of answering the question.

SMPlSl · Answer

Yes and no. Yes we're all born with the same capabilities of an infant, however your parents dictate the level of opportunities in life. If they didn't do well then the child won't have the same opportunity as one born with parents who made something of themselves.

Jaybezz · Answer

My analytical mind wants to say yes but that would require our mothers to follow the exact (correct) procedures, from nutrition & rest to exercise & pre- natal vitamins to every detail of her existence to achieve ideal health. Environmental factors, heredity, even the attention, or lack there of for the child after birth is huge. The more I think about it, I dont believe its possible unless human beings are farmed in a controlled environment. Equal is an impossible term. Personal experience, once we're set loose on this planet... has a way bigger influence on how we prosper. There's way too many factors. I gotta go lay down...

talloak · Answer

Depends on what you mean by equal. In theory we are born equal under the law, but even that’s not always true. We wish we were equal in opportunity but that’s certainly not true. Our strengths and weaknesses are not equal, whether individually or collectively. Perhaps we are equal in the sight of God, in which case we should treat each person the same. But we don’t

markscott · Answer

We are theoretically born equal, but not in reality. We are born with varying capacities for health, intelligence, personality growth, levels of energy, and on and on. And of course, there are great variations in the social setting in which we are born.

RolandCuthbert · Answer

Same question different day. Everyone is born different. But they should all have equal rights to pursue life, liberty and happiness.

"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the "unalienable rights" which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their creator, and which governments are created to protect.

Love2Jackit · Answer

The are we all born equal. Answer no way. Reason being somebody born poor stays poor most of the time. The part about being equal is a tricky question. Cause some people think we are all born equal. The wrong part is everybody. Not everybody can be equal. It would make the world have in balance. Meaning you 2 have people 2 do certain jobs. Some jobs taking slot of brain power others may take muscle. That's just the way life is. Nobody said it was fair.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

In a way yes. I saw it very often that small kids interact with each other without having problems about social status, ethnic origin, and such.
I believe that equal chances - or opportunities - should be open to all people the same way.
However - this is not something that simply can be claimed. To further USE one's equality chances will mean that one needs to actively pursue these, and of course achieve and deserve the results.

Nivinxus · Answer

No

Physically, we have different races (that could determine perception), gender, genetic diseases and other issues.

More abstractly, social environments, socio-economic states, the mentality of parents may have a hand in how babies develop or even born. (imagine being born in a less than ideal condition.)

Anonymous · Answer

Impossible. Social status and wealth (or lack of) of the child's parents will make every child unequal in the first place.

Brokenheartedx · Answer

Yes, we are all born the same, naked covered in muscus and blood and swallowing our own shit... When we die we go almost the same way, accept we don't swallow our own shit we are lying in it...

nobody is above anyone when we know that

jayden888 · Answer

We aren't born equal in terms of how we develop. If I trained my whole life to run a 100 m, I wouldn't run it as fast as if Usain Bolt as a young man trained for 1 year.

We are all differently abled (unequal in that regard) but we all deserve to be treated with respect regardless of it (equal in that regard). Because a person has feelings.

MajesticTwelve · Answer

Equality is a nice pipe dream, usually talked about by the worst of us as an attempt to make things balanced for themselves with them actually trying or putting in effort.
No one is equal to anyone else.

mistixs · Answer

Equal in that everybody should be treated with basic human decency. However, I generally don't like the term "equal" because people assume it justifies treating people exactly the same, despite their differences.

mattdzz · Answer

No. Some are born more beautiful, smarter, healthier, etc. etc. There is nothing about us that, beyond some abstract intrinsic value as humans, that is equal to another.

Pink2000 · Answer

Umm no. Baby John could’ve been born ito a family full of drug addicts and abusers meanwhile baby Deshawn could’ve been born ito a family full of millionaires

blk_paradox · Answer

Unfortunately we're not born equal. Some people are taller stronger faster smarter more charismatic and or more gifted in other ways. Some people are born wealthy some are born dirt poor. Not everyone is going to be given the same chances and opportunities based on where how and when they're born. You have people who hate other people purely based on their birth date.

sawno · Answer

Of course not everyone is born equal.
Not everyone has the same IQ, some people are more prone to deseizes, some are born male others female, some are born with birth defficiency's, some are not born alive, etc, etc, etc.

Anonymous · Answer

No, some of us are failed abortion survivors. We weren’t equal enough to the babies that got to be born without our mother attempting to murder us in the name of choice. Fuck these hoes man

MecheD · Answer

In the form of being human absolutely. But in the terms of social status no. Last names play a huge role in the way you’re portrayed a lot if they know your family is wealthy or well off you will be accepted a lot quicker than others without it.

CocoBat · Answer

We're born with equal rights, not equal potential and ability

Anonymous · Answer

No, we are not born equal.

It has nothing to do with skin colour, it is STUPID peoples excuses these days.

Just position your parents are in. Rest of it is how good environment you are growing up in, education you are given and connections your family has.

MarciOwens · Answer

Yes, of course. But some people are more equal than others.

00mikey07 · Answer

If you thought about it like that then they might as well bring slavery back. I your last name has nothing to do to how we are raided how we eat what's are sexual preference is its all equal til about 10 or 11 to how are mind set is tracked on what makes us stand apart from one another that just my opinion

BadApple1 · Answer

There is something called the birth lottery. Some win and some loose. Sorry to say that there is no such thing as them all being winners. It’s not possible.

GuidoThePizzaMaker · Answer

No every person is unique and is born into a different caste
Some are destined to be good others evil
Some are destined to be born into sin and to overcome
Others are born with innate talent others with handicap

GermanGuy87 · Answer

of course not
there are people like LeBron James and there are people like bettlejuice from Howard Stern - how on earth could you call that equal?
Maybe equal in some kind of spiritual way if that makes you feel better

Daniel012 · Answer

tl;dr - no, I don't think so. we're all (apparently) born with a soul. some people are born without arms, legs, blind, non-full functioning brain. bank of mum & dad. 21st century society has mechanisms where people with less are sometimes given extra (Bruce Hornsby, That's just the way it is). If you're a Gazelle you're more likely to be eaten by a Lion. if you outrun the lion, it might end up dying... we're a little bit past that level. but we're still life forms with resources.

Uannoyme · Answer

It depends on what you mean by equal. Under the law we are. But, in other ways no. Some people are born wealthy, smart, good looking, able-bodied, charismatic, etc. Some, not so much.

BCA6010 · Answer

No. Some people are born with physical or mental disabilities, and genes that are more or less beneficial for the area they live in.

Miristheiss · Answer

In most western countries we are born with the same rights and equal protection under the law. Equal skill, intelligence, abilities, attractiveness, health? Of course not.

EriFrancis1994 · Answer

Not really. Some are born into privilege. Others have to do it the hard way. You take what you're given and make the most of it

just_a_potato · Answer

Well no then we'd all be exact genetic copies of ourselves. If we are talking generals such as most of us have hair and we all were raised by a guardian then I guess so

mateynine · Answer

We aren't all equal but that's OK. We shouldn't be dragging down others due to perceived privilege just because someone else has life worse.

"Do you think a last name can play a role in someone being born with privilege?"
Nope.

englisc · Answer

No. People are born into different circumstances. We're also born with different capabilities both mentally and physically.

Supernatural_fanatic · Answer

Yes in terms of human rights. But some are born with advantages and others disadvantages.

Hamsteroids · Answer

Hell no! Have you ever heard of Blue Ivy? Or North West? Lol yeah, definitely not born equal

Inexpensivefurniture · Answer

No definitely not. Where we are born, to who we are born, even how we are born immediately has an effect on our social standing

Neeceeb7 · Answer

No we are not. Unfortunately we are born to 9or parents in the places they live and the cultures they are and we gotta do the best with it

JKingOff · Answer

Yep. we are all born completely helpless, with no knowledge in our tiny heads, and completely dependent on others to take care of us for several years. Sounds pretty equal to me.

winterfox10 · Answer

I have seen what being born with a silver spoon in your mouth can do to people. I don't think we are born equal at all. Maybe in the eyes of the law, to an extent, but that's it.

leahzrc · Answer

We are all equally entitled to be equal but we are not equal

Samhanks · Answer

All born equal but it depends in which household or parents you are born in ! They may be rich or poor, happy or unhappy, careful or careless, etc. That's your destiny and you have to accept it to be happy !

Smegskull · Answer

Of course not. Some people are born stupid, some with natural muscle growth, some born to be attractive.

If we were all born equal we would all have the same immunodeficiencies and very quickly go extinct from some virus or bacteria.

Pulimuli · Answer

No, if we were it would be very bad for the human race

Diversity in genetics is a very good tool for survival. If some disease kills everyone with 'x' gene then those with 'y' gene survives

This makes also makes us different in ability

Drifter83UK · Answer

Name and status aside. No one is born equal physically, mentally or spiritually.

Bandit74 · Answer

Nope. Some people definitely have better traits/more potential based on their genetics and the family they are born into.

dtweed96 · Answer

Well we were meant to be but because of genetics it just makes that thought seem impossible not unless people thought of relation of the soul instead of physical stabilty

up_64 · Answer

No. From the day your born there will be iq differences, looks, location of birth and a wealth of other factors that will determine how valuable most of humanity considers you

Reaperbot666 · Answer

Innocent yes. However over time how you are raised can effect who you become.

AynonOMouse · Answer

Nope. Genetically people are different and have different potential in different areas. People are not equal.

poseidon1111 · Answer

Of course even the rich kids aren't born rich their rich parents hand them money later on. So even if some people get more help than others at birth there is nothing that separates us.

Anonymous · Answer

Those babies are so cute lmao But yes, we are born equal. We may not be treated equally, but we are born equal.

BlackMex · Answer

As humans but everyone has different strengths and weaknesses

FakeName123 · Answer

Obviously not. If common sense would be common, everyone would know.

bradly321 · Answer

Defi equal if u mean are we all born free of sin them yes but if u mean tallent looks or smart then I don't think so should we treat one another equal yes we should but we are human and unfortunately we sin

kylakinz · Answer

Yes, unfortunatelywe are taught to hate at a young age.

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