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The two different views are examined below:

(i)Liberty and equality are opposed to each other : There is a view point that both liberty and equality are opposed to each other and they cannot go side-by-side. The main advocates of this view point are De Tocqueviflle and Lord Acton. According to Lord Acton, “The passion for equality has made vain the hope for liberty.” Equality curtails individual liberty. If everybody is considered equal in the eyes of law and equality is established in economic sphere than liberty will be curtailed. Nobody will have the liberty to earn money according to his own sweet will. If equality is established then the intelligent and hard working people will not be able to develop their personality to the full. People are of the opinion that nature has not created all the people equal. So liberty and equality cannot go side-by-side.

(ii) Liberty and equality are related to each other : In the modern age, most of the thinkers do not accept the view point that liberty and equality are closely related to each other. It is said that liberty in the absence of equality is meaningless. Prof. Laski, Prof. Towny Pollard and Maclver are the thinkers who support this view point. In fact, the liberty does not mean the same work and equal wages for all the people.

 

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Affirmative action is based on the idea that it is not sufficient to establish formal equality by law. When we wish to eliminate inequalities that are deeply rooted, it is necessary to take some more positive measures to minimise and eliminate entrenched forms of social inequalities. Most policies of affirmative action are thus designed to correct the cumulative effect of past inequalities. 

Special assistance in the form of affirmative action is expected to be a temporary or time-bound measure. The assumption is that special consideration will enable these communities to overcome the existing disadvantages and then compete with others on equal terms. Although policies of affirmative action are supported for making the society more equal, many theorists argue against them. They question whether treating people differently can ever lead to greater equality.

The fact is that in the spheres of education and health care India has done far less for its deprived population than what is their due. Inequalities in school education are glaring. Many poor children in rural areas or urban slums have little chance of attending schools. If they do get the chance, their schools have little to offer that would be comparable to the facilities available in elite schools. The inequalities with which children enter school tend to continue to hamper their chances to improve their qualifications or get good jobs. These students face hurdles in gaining admission to elite professional courses because they lack the means to pay for special coaching. The fees for professional courses also may be prohibitively high. Consequently, they cannot compete on equal terms with the more privileged sections.

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A. Stephen Hawking	(i) Physically challenged by a famous physicist.
B. Before beginning of contomporary World History’s period main criterias of discrimination.	(ii) Colour, gender, race or nationality.
C. The slogan of a political French Revolution	(iii) Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
D. The slogan of a political French Revolution	(iv) Restrooms are reserved for white only.

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Equality is regarded as powerful moral ideal. It has inspired and guided all human society for many centuries. It is implicit in all faiths and religions which proclaim all human beings to be the creation of almighty.

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Another problem which arises with the idea of natural differences is that some differences which could be considered natural need no longer be seen as unalterable:

(i)For instance, advances in medical science and technologies have helped many disabled people to function effectively in society.

(ii)Today, computers can help blind people, wheel chairs and artificial limbs can help in cases of physical disability, even a person’s looks can be changed with cosmetic surgery.

(iii)The famous physicist Stephen Hawking can hardly move or speak but he has made major contributions to science.

(iv)It would seem unjust to most people today if disabled people are denied necessary help to overcome the effects of their disability or a fair reward for their work on the grounds that they are naturally less capable.