Equality under the law

• No person is legally superior to any other. Coupled with the procedural right to due process, this is the true meaning of equality before the law.
• The 3L Philosophy is focused on equality under the law for all people. All people have the right to fair and equal protection under the only coherent substantive right that exists: the ’negative’ right not to be aggressed against. This right serves as the foundation of the law that all reasonable people agree on: the Legal Principle.
• Applying the veil of ignorance can be useful for determining what constitutes a law that is fair for all. Whatever our physical characteristics or social status, we are all vulnerable to aggression. No one likes being a victim of aggressors, so it is fair to say that the 3L Principle is reasonable when analysed through the veil of ignorance.
  • What about those born into poverty or with disabilities? A free society is likely still the best option even for those born with disadvantages because the prosperity of society as a whole benefits them, both through opportunities to participate and through the charitable giving power of fellow free citizens.

The impossible goal of complete equality

• No two people are the same - we each have different strengths, weaknesses, abilities, values, and preferences that shape our will. Not only would equal outcomes for all be impossible, but any attempt to force this result requires aggression. We have to choose which we prefer: equality by force, or peace. We can’t have both.
• 3L celebrates the patchwork quilt of the human family, the diversity that makes each of us unique and enriches society.

Choosing what kind of equality we prefer

• Is equality of outcome really our preference over equality under the law? What if the equal outcome were enslavement and poverty… why would the equal suffering of others make our suffering any better? Surely equality in freedom is better, even though that naturally leads to varied outcomes for all. If we care about both freedom and equality of outcomes, we can use our freedom to help those less fortunate than ourselves and inspire others to do similarly.
  • We should never lose sight of the importance of advocating for everyone to adopt basic moral views voluntarily and lead by example.