INEQUALITY AND ITS ECONOMIC ABSURDITY: THE PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS OF BRIAN BARRY

Abstract

The issue of inequality is not just economic but also social and cultural, requiring a nuanced understanding of its various dimensions and impact on different communities. For instant, Nigeria as a country is indeed facing significant economic hardship which is affecting millions of its citizens. When one is poor, the individual simply live with fear. Imagine two individuals existed side by side, one had clean home with everything life can think of, well furnished house, enjoyed access to quality education, healthcare and job opportunities, and felt secure, safe and valued. In contrast, the other individual struggled to make ends meet. There is limited access to quality education, healthcare, and job opportunities. Here, crime and violence becomes rampant and the feeling of marginalized and ignored. This highlights the stark contrasts in opportunities, resources and treatment that exist in many societies, perpetuating inequality and social injustice. In many societies, inequality in income, education, and access to resources hinder social mobility and fuel social unrest. The method adopted is hermeneutics so to uncover the underlying principles inequality has placed on man. Tackling inequality is crucial for developing country and development agencies: as well as being a valuable goal in itself, improving equity constitutes a central place in our understanding of beneficial change and development, driving poverty reduction in combination with growth. A society with less inequality means more people can afford to participate in the economy as consumers, leading to greater demand for products and services, which ultimately benefits businesses and investors.