Equality

Warner, Charles Dudley, 1829-1900Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 49K words
Chapters: 5

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Equality by Charles Dudley WarnerAuthor: Warner, Charles Dudley, 1829-1900,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Dec 5, 2004

Editor's review

Warner's "Equality" is an argumentative essay that examines the complex position of equality as a social ideal in reality. Rather than praising equality as a slogan, the author advances layer by layer from the angles of human difference, social order, and individual effort, acknowledging both the appeal of equality as a moral principle and the problems that may arise from simplifying and absolutizing it. The essay carries the unhurried tone of nineteenth-century American familiar essays; its argument relies not on an accumulation of data and cases but on the discrimination and contrast of ideas, conveying a gentle yet clear-minded conservative temperament. For today's readers, its value lies not in offering conclusions but in demonstrating how to take seriously a word that is frequently used yet often left vague. It suits use as a short reference alongside works of social thought, and readers who enjoy familiar essays and are willing to read slowly and reflect. Those expecting rigorous sociological argument or a survey of contemporary equality theory will need to supplement it elsewhere.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in social thought and public issues who want to learn about early discussions of the idea of equality
Students in the humanities and social sciences, as a reference for English essay and argumentative writing
Readers who enjoy familiar essays and are willing to read slowly and reflect, for everyday exercises in critical thinking
Learners seeking to train their reading comprehension of English argumentative essays

Not a good fit for

Researchers needing a systematic survey of contemporary equality theory or empirical research
Social practitioners expecting clear policy positions and action plans
Casual readers who prefer narrative and plot-driven reading

Reading tips

Read through once to clarify the author's several layers of definition of equality, then go back and trace the order of argument and its turning points.
While reading, set the author's views alongside contemporary debates on equality, note points of agreement and disagreement, and keep a comparative record.
Read in sections; after each part, summarize the core claims in your own words to check whether you have grasped the thread of the argument.
For the English original, read key passages closely with a dictionary; in argumentative sentences, pay attention to expressions of contrast and qualification.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What does this "Equality" mainly argue?

The essay examines the idea of equality, affirming its appeal as a moral ideal while warning of the problems that may arise from simplifying and absolutizing it. The author is more concerned with how to understand the concept prudently than with proposing specific institutional arrangements. Readers should grasp the line of argument rather than look for ready-made conclusions.

How does it relate to contemporary equality theory?

It is a nineteenth-century essay-style discussion, a fragment in the history of the idea of equality rather than a survey of contemporary theory. It can serve as a reference for understanding the origins of the debate, but on issues such as contemporary distributive justice and equality of opportunity, specialized research is still needed; this text cannot replace it.

How difficult is the English?

The essay is a public-domain English familiar essay with a strongly argumentative character, many long sentences and abstract expressions, and is more difficult than ordinary narrative texts. It is advisable to read through first for the general sense, then read key passages closely; slow down at expressions of contrast and qualification, and use a dictionary and background materials as needed.

Is it suitable for classroom discussion?

It is suitable as short supplementary material to guide students in distinguishing the different layers of the concept of equality. Teachers should explain its historical context and avoid treating the author's views directly as contemporary conclusions; students can be asked first to summarize the argument, then to discuss it against contemporary controversies.

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About the author

Warner, Charles Dudley, 1829-1900 Author

Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) was an American writer and editor, with fifty-seven of his works held in this catalog. His subjects are notably wide-ranging: there are familiar essays on gardening and everyday leisure such as My Summer in a Garden, a study of a fellow writer in Washington Irving, and travel accounts of foreign places, including In the Levant, My Winter on the Nile and Our Italy, the last concerning Italy. The chapters associated with The Gilded Age indicate that he also took part in writing on social themes. The catalog classifies him under inspirational growth, suggesting that some of his works carry a tone of counsel and self-reflection. Public information is limited, so rather than dwelling on biographical detail, readers may begin with his essays and travel writings and appreciate their easy, unhurried style and close observation.