What is the difference between equity and fairness?
Equity is one interpretation of fairness or justice. A central theme in debates about fairness and justice is equality versus equity. “Equality” means people should be treated the same by public policy to remove barriers to the individual’s success. It is commonly associated with giving people equality of opportunity.
What are our individual beliefs in fairness?
Inevitably our individual beliefs in fairness emerge and they are often quite different. Fairness as Equality: The “equality” argument says simply that because there are four of us, we each take a fourth. Fairness as Equity: The “equity” argument says we take the portion that exemplifies the value of what we individually put in.
What is the difference between “equality” and “equity”?
“Equality” means people should be treated the same by public policy to remove barriers to the individual’s success. It is commonly associated with giving people equality of opportunity. “Equity” means people should be treated differently by public policy to compensate for different circumstances and consequent need for help from government.
Is “fairness” a nice word?
“Fairness” and “equity” are “nice” words. But “owning” nice words does not necessarily make us nice. It can sometimes make us righteous. And righteousness is rarely a compelling reason for people to change their minds.
Principles of Copyright Law – Cases and Materials