Are All Men Created Equal?

[The Sotoan Union]

In the Declaration of Independence, it states that all men were created equal, and those words illustrated by Jefferson would have a lasting effect on America, and to a larger extent, the entire world. The idea that we are all born equal has been ingrained in numerous societies across the world, and many people indeed believe such a value. Many people today believe that we are all born equal, and that nobody is inherently superior or inferior to another.

However, are we really born equal? Some people are born with heritable diseases, which puts them at a disadvantage, others are born with defects, which puts them at a disadvantage, some are born with genes that makes them taller, or genes that better pertain to modern beauty standards than others. Does that make humans unequal?

No, the notion that all men were created equal is fallacious. When we were born, we are given a set of genes which will determine our future, and that would make us susceptible to some things, resilient to others, and give us a set of advantages and disadvantages. Some people are born taller than others, others are born smarter than others, and all of these will inevitably create differences and genetic inequality. If one was born with down syndrome, how are they equal when they have a set of disadvantages, such as a very high chance of low IQ, or lack of many interpersonal skills that are persistent in those without the syndrome. That child with down syndrome, as sad and harsh as it is, is unequal to those without down syndrome.

In conclusion, we are not created equal, we are not born on the same level. Some are better than us, and some are worse than us, but that does not warrant for laws that treat people differently, as it is tyrannical and morally repugnant to undertake such actions.

I don't think being taller or prettier than someone else is significant enough to affect a society.

[The Sotoan Union]

They are born equal before the law.

But are they born equal in other aspects, not just the law. Sure, they will be equally treated before the law, but how is it possible for people to be born equally in non-law aspects. "All men were created equal" has been a quote for people to argue that people were born equal.

Maybe it doesn't apply to not under the law. The founding fathers were writing a legal document. Why would they care about things not under the law? Think about it.

[Sebastianbourg]

All men are equal before the law; if Joe Bloggs commits murder his punishment should be equal to that of Sir James Fitzroy, 2nd Bt. With that being said, it is ridiculous in my eyes to claim that we all born equal since all humans are born under different circumstances which will most-likely dictate the life-path they follow. Some are born wealthy and/or intelligent whilst others are born in misery and/or stupidity and ignorance.

[Zunkwentania]

They are born equal before the law.

But are they born equal in other aspects, not just the law. Sure, they will be equally treated before the law, but how is it possible for people to be born equally in non-law aspects. "All men were created equal" has been a quote for people to argue that people were born equal.

The constitution only deals with legal aspects.

[The Conez Imperium]

Genetics pales in comparison to education.

Our genetics influence our intelligence.

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/iq-genes
http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014 ... -do-school
http://iq-test.learninginfo.org/iq03.htm.

Education is ultimately better than genetic advantages. Genetics alone does not guarantee someone's intelligence, it is the quality and amount of education that assures someone's intelligence.

[L Ron Cupboard]

Congratulations OP you have reached the puberty of political thought.

I'm not sure the ball has dropped yet.

[Survey Says]

Thomas Jefferson could be said to have based this statement on a false and unproven assumption.

The only things that make us equal are that we are all born and we all die. Outside of that, actual equality is a myth.

Some people are born naturally stronger than others. Others are immune to diseases such as ebola while others are not. In those situations people are not naturally equal.


Further, some people are born with a greater propensity for intelligence. Yes I know this is very highly unpopular but nature does not care about what is popular. It just is. Hence there has always been an unequal distribution of intelligence amongst humans. Some people have more, some people have less, and still others have none.

Economic equality is also a myth and has never existed. When you account for the whole of human history, even in nature we find that humans are not born equals. Besides the above inequalities, some are actually born with resources at their disposal while others are born with nothing at all. The ones who are born into a family of haves will succeed in climbing the economic social mobility ladder while the sad fact is that those who born into families of have nots, have very little chance of climbing the same ladder or reaching the same economic/social circles.

So if you judge things by how they are naturally, then no, not all men are equal. However, in America we have a little tweak. In our Declaration of Independence and in our constitution, it states that the law must treat all people equally and the same. This is irregardless of the natural inequality which both God and Nature have imposed upon them.

In both nature and economics you are inherent unequal to each other. But in the eyes of the American legal and political system, you are equal because you live in a country that is governed by a contract that was written on a piece of paper by a group of very old and very much dead white males from England during the late 18th century and whose grandchildren reinterpreted the definition of that particular clause in the middle of the 19th century and again in the middle of the 20th and who continue to redefine it today.


God did not make you equal and nature did not make you equal You are equal only because of a piece of paper. This is why we need constitutions and why we must always work vigilantly to elect the right people to office. That is the only way to protect your legal equality.

[Survey Says]

Our genetics influence our intelligence.

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/iq-genes
http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014 ... -do-school
http://iq-test.learninginfo.org/iq03.htm.

Education is ultimately better than genetic advantages. Genetics alone does not guarantee someone's intelligence, it is the quality and amount of education that assures someone's intelligence.

It is the culture they are born into. Hence intelligence is primarily the property of the well to do who are born in cultures that allow them to thrive academically vs those who are born in the have not neighborhoods where they are encouraged to drop out of school.

See, economics has as much to do with the development of intelligence as genetics.

[Distruzio]

Equal before the Law, yes. Equally in the Image of God, yes.

In no other way are all men created equal.

[Eastern Samothrace]

We are treated as equals, even if we aren't genetically one and the same.

[Survey Says]

When they say "All men are created equal", it means that there is no real thing, other than Providence, that separates people into royalty, nobility, commoner or serf status.

A rich man and a poor man, one is not inherently different from the other, they are both men, and if circumstances were different, then either could have been in the position of the other.

It is a rejection of the ideas of nobility and royalty.

I have you know that I speak as a member of said nobility as I am a descendent of the House of Stuart, the Scottish monarchs who took over England, Wales, and Ireland and parts of France.

People conveniently forget that it was under the rule of the Scottish crown that Great Britain was first united under one government.

My ancestor was correct about the divine right of kings which in Asia is called the Mandate of Heaven.

The American revolt and the revolts that led to my families loss of the throne in both Britain and in France were sins against God and against mankind. However, I do not believe we want the throne back. At least I have no heard anyone mention it. But if we were inclined to ask for the crown we would be more likely to ask for the crown of Spain since that country has been badly mismanaged. At least our cousins still reign in Sweden.

[Lalaki]

All people should be equal before the law, and in opportunity.

The premise of all men being equal is not related to genetics. It simply states a truth that no one is better than another by virtue of race, gender, religion, or social class.

[Survey Says]

All men are born with inherent dignity and are equal beings before God, but I hesitate to say go so far as to say that all men are "equal" in the sense that some men shall live more virtuous lives and do more good than others. But, in recognizing the first two facts, we ought say that man ought be equal before the law.

To which my ancestory, James I, would say that no man is ever equal to the King.

[The 93rd Coalition]

Yes.

[Survey Says]

But what if Group A is faster, stronger, more intelligent, and more socially capable than Group B? The aspects that define Group A and Group B come from when they were born, their genetics. Although their development in life could have had an effect on these factors, their genetics overall set a standard on how they would grow up.

Does that mean that Group A and Group B is equal? Would Group A not be better than Group B?

Genetics pales in comparison to education. We can educate Group B to be just as intelligent, stronger and faster than Group A

Ha ha ha. Strength and speed are genetically predetermined Education has nothing to do with it. As for the theory that God created all men equal, that goes out the window the minute you input predestination theology into all of this. You can only say that God created all men equal if there is no predestination. But if there is predestination then, no, men are not all created equal in the eyes of God.

[Arcanda]

Yes, all men are born equal.Maybe not equal in wealth or equal physically speaking, but legally speaking they are equal because they have the same rights.I believe that's how the sentence needs to be interpreted.

[Caninope]

All men are born with inherent dignity and are equal beings before God, but I hesitate to say go so far as to say that all men are "equal" in the sense that some men shall live more virtuous lives and do more good than others. But, in recognizing the first two facts, we ought say that man ought be equal before the law.

To which my ancestory, James I, would say that no man is ever equal to the King.

I don't believe that "goodness" or "virtuousness" is passed by heredity and genetics. I don't believe in hereditary monarchism. Elected monarchism, I might be able to get on board with.

EDIT: Strong emphasis in "might".

[Caninope]

Yes, all men are born equal.Maybe not equal in wealth or equal physically speaking, but legally speaking they are equal because they have the same rights.I believe that's how the sentence needs to be interpreted.

And why do they have the same rights?

[The Conez Imperium]

Genetics pales in comparison to education. We can educate Group B to be just as intelligent, stronger and faster than Group A

If speed and strength are determined by genetics, explain.

Why I have the ability to swim faster than everyone in my school? I have no genetics whatsoever that helps me gain an advantage in swimming. I don't have big feet, I don't look streamlined, my body wasn't designed for swimming. So what factor makes me faster than everyone in my school?

[Arcanda]

Yes, all men are born equal.Maybe not equal in wealth or equal physically speaking, but legally speaking they are equal because they have the same rights.I believe that's how the sentence needs to be interpreted.

And why do they have the same rights?

Because they belong to the same race, mankind.

[The Conez Imperium]

Yes, all men are born equal.Maybe not equal in wealth or equal physically speaking, but legally speaking they are equal because they have the same rights.I believe that's how the sentence needs to be interpreted.

And why do they have the same rights?

Because we theoretically abolished slavery and dictated that everyone man was to be equal under God.

[Survey Says]

Yes, all men are born equal.Maybe not equal in wealth or equal physically speaking, but legally speaking they are equal because they have the same rights.I believe that's how the sentence needs to be interpreted.

My friend, that is the only way to correctly interpret it. We are equal not because of nature and not because of God, but because the people founded our nation wrote and ratified a piece of paper that said we were. But if you decide to get rid of said piece of paper, then you and are I are no longer equal.

Equality exists only as long as the US Constitution remains in force.

[Sebastianbourg]

Yes, all men are born equal.Maybe not equal in wealth or equal physically speaking, but legally speaking they are equal because they have the same rights.I believe that's how the sentence needs to be interpreted.

My friend, that is the only way to correctly interpret it. We are equal not because of nature and not because of God, but because the people founded our nation wrote and ratified a piece of paper that said we were. But if you decide to get rid of said piece of paper, then you and are I are no longer equal.

Equality exists only as long as the US Constitution remains in force.

So only Americans are equal before the law, eh?

[The Nuclear Fist]

The slaveocrat sympathizer doesn't think everyone is born equal. I'm so shocked I don't have words to describe it.

[Anarkhist Kyrylashka]

Everyone is born equal, not the same or cloned. I don't know why anyone would interpret that in a literal sense.