If Love is not enough, what else is required?  Could valuing Equality be enough, on its own?  If we choose Equality as a core value, what does it mean?  Which kinds of equality should we value?

1.5.9   Love alone is insufficient as a foundational guiding principle for ethical behaviour.  We choose the core ethical value of Equality, to treat other people as equals or equally deserving in certain respects. 

          In doing this, we acknowledge our human nature, in that we will preference our family and friends in many situations.  But we can reasonably expect corporate bodies such as governments, companies and businesses to be more objective and value Equality without this bias.  And we can expect individuals to be more objective and treat people equally when there are minimal emotional impacts.

          We value equality before the law and equality of treatment in civil society, regardless of age, sex, gender, social status, race, religion, caste, class, ability or disability, appearance, dress, and so on.

          We not only must provide everyone with opportunities to succeed but ensure that we minimise unfair disadvantage that prevents people from succeeding.  Sometimes it is appropriate to ensure everyone gets their fair share of help, but in other cases help should be provided when needed with no arbitrary cap.  Similarly reward for effort and appointment on merit are good principle to follow, provided we also take steps to compensate for unfair disadvantages.

          We value the widespread provision of welfare services, such as education, health care, accommodation, legal aid and emergency income support, rather than a universal income, primarily on efficiency grounds.   more