In the Name of Love

I thought your post was very compelling and something to think about. But, I ask that you clarify one point:

"...the claim to equality is merely a desire to improve our personal situation and thus does not appear when inequality favors us. "

Many people in greater socio-economic strata are still concerned with socio-ecnomoical equality (ie. many weathly people donate to causes that would help poor people become more wealthy).

Can you explain the difference?

David Kaplan

Aaron, you state:

If we are to witness a reduction in social and economic inequalities, we should expect the problem of envy to become more prominent.

So enter Denmark. In fact you can find a rather noxious cultural tradition called the Jantelov. Tall Poppy Syndrome is similar. As an Englishman living in North Jutland I am trying to get to the bottom of ENVY everywhere. I never noticed it as badly as here and have suffered for it- as do my fellow expats. We try to have equality of opportunity in Denmark and do so to a large extent. Unfortunately people end up in very different places depending on how one plays the game of life. People end up socially dependent or independently rich. Not all choices lead to the same outcomes.

Being successful demands humility here. Being very happy, having a great job, fun, holidays and material possessions, especially nice clothes, are seen as targets of envy. By and large most people here in Aalborg are economically struggling but they get by - food, housing, drink and package holiday. Unfortunately they borrow to get their materialistic desires satisfied. The welfare state is very prominent, hence the high taxes.

I have never seen such petty envy as there are some who have clear success. They have to keep a low profile and are subject to sniping remarks and negative responses.

I do believe the desire for equality here is about wanting more personally and not about a moral perspective. You can spot it when you talk to people. They have a disdain for others who have more. Nevertheless they want more themselves but feel guilt as a consequence. They then seem to deny themselves to retain their faulty moral perspective.

In fact the situation is so unpleasant that you have to choose friends carefully and accept that when talking to people socially they may get envious when they feel you have more of better. I have been told to dress in a more boring manner and play down the good aspects of my life.

This is a super article. I assume you have some empirical studies to work from? Why did this suddenly appear on your academic agenda? You must have a few more interesting perspectives to add here. Keep writing and thanks.

Stewart Bone

There is no such thing as absolute equality. Even with equality under the law and equality of opportunity only some will be able to take full advantage – precisely because all are not created equal. Some of us are smarter, prettier, and born healthy while others are not so fortunate and this will affect the choices we make, don’t make, or can’t make as our capabilities and circumstances dictate. I have no idea how we would even quantify if this culture is more envious versus another. We can be sure however that anywhere whether the society is modern egalitarian or more traditional with sharply proscribed roles, that those within the societies are “better” than someone in their peer group and envy is being felt by someone.