Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Equality
(4,379 words)

1. Definition

Equality is generally understood as the partial conformity of several objects, persons, or circumstances. In contrast to “identity,” which indicates complete agreement, equality describes the relationship of different objects to one another that agree in at least one respect. In ancient Greece, equality (isonomía, “equality before the law”; isotimía, “equal right to hold public office”; isegoría, “free speech for all”) was considered the epitome of democracy, although the concept of…

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Reulecke, Martin and Hering Torres, Max Sebastián, “Equality”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_020280>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20180126



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