Abstract
D.Phil.
The purpose of this research was to answer the following question: Can a feasible liberal model be
developed and defended that promotes and integrates egalitarian and Anon-egalitarian @ and
aggregative values, while at the same time respecting the individual as an autonomous agent, who, as
such, may be held accountable for the consequences of his decisions and actions but not for those
consequences that may be attributed to his circumstances? In order to answer the research question a
systematic examination of the leading liberal conceptions of equality, with special attention to an
alternative approach in terms of a substantive equality of opportunity model, is undertaken.
The research falls into three distinguishable parts. In the first part the role of equality in Rawls=s theory
of justice as fairness was critically analysed. The conclusion reached was that whereas Rawls=s theory
provides valuable insights on which to base a liberal theory of equality his theory fails to provide
specific guidelines on which to make the crucial distinction between autonomous choices and choices
dictated by the person=s circumstances. In the second part the conceptions of equality found in the work
of Nozick, Dworkin, Sen and Walzer were compared with that of Rawls and explored for its potential
for grounding a liberal conception of equality based on equality of opportunity. Limited support for the
compound equality of opportunity model is found in Nozick=s libertarian conception of equality as
formal equality of opportunity. Conceptually Dworkin=s conception of equality as equality of resources
was found to be a powerful model to distinguish between those circumstances over which the
individual has no control and therefore should not be held accountable and those choices over which
the individual exercises control and hence should be held accountable. Moving from the equality of
resources approaches, as exemplified by Rawls and Dworkin, to the equality of opportunity
approaches, Sen=s equality of capability is discussed. Of particular importance is Sen=s insight that
equality of opportunity requires one to take into consideration the individual=s capacity to convert the
means at his or her disposal into ends and henceforth that these differential conversion capacities
should be equalized. The compound equality of opportunity model proposed in this thesis in important
part rests on the assumption that equality is a complex value which derives its value from the context in
which it is employed. As such Walzer=s idea of complex equality is valuable in that it recognizes the
plurality and the contextuality of the ideal of equality. In the third part the compound equality of
opportunity model is introduced by distinguishing between equality of results and equality of
opportunity approaches. It is then argued that it is possible, even though imperfectly, to distinguish
between circumstances and autonomous choice by means of statistical techniques whereby people may
be grouped by identifying independent variables predicative of success in the different spheres of life.
It is shown how this approach may enable us to hold people accountable for their autonomous actions
and choices but not for their circumstances. It is further argued that efficiency and aggregative
considerations may operate as moderating variables in the different spheres of life. It is also argued that
this model will promote accountability at the individual as well as the institutional level and how
substantive equality of opportunity should predominate at the early stages of life while formal equality
of opportunity should prevail at the point where positions of some importance are distributed so that
third party interests are protected. This thesis is concluded with the claim that conceptually the model is
feasible and capable of implementation. If we take seriously the idea of individual autonomy and
accountability, and the notion that equality of opportunity provides the means to isolate the
consequences of individual effort and motivation from the consequences of (undeserved)
circumstances, then something like the compound equality of opportunity model may provide the
means to give expression to our convictions.
Prof H.P.P. Lötter
Prof E.F.J. Malherbe