The Declaration of Independence aimed to turn our continent from a British colony into an American nation. Yet its first, its primary claim is that we are all individually equal. What’s that got to do with national independence? Yet the Declaration’s claim of universal human equality has grown into our primary political passion.

This brief book asks: What concrete, substantial good do we get out of this equality? Well, specific safety of our equality before the law. But beyond that, and the easement of our envy? Equality at work, equalizing, is a mere leveling relation. Whatever is worth having involves distinction, that’s inequality.