What Is Property? · Chapter
§ 7: That Inequality of Powers Is the Necessary Condition of Equality of Fortunes explained
Proudhon addresses the objection that natural inequalities of talent and intelligence justify unequal rewards.
What happens
Proudhon addresses the objection that natural inequalities of talent and intelligence justify unequal rewards. He argues that inequality of powers is actually the necessary condition for equality of fortunes. He critiques the economist Say's division of a physician's fortune into educational costs and natural talent, showing that the cost of education is a debt to be repaid, not a source of income. Proudhon concludes that all capacities are entitled to the same reward, and that superiority of genius itself grounds equality of fortunes.
Themes in this chapter
Equality and Justice
Proudhon argues that natural inequality of powers is the very condition for equality of fortunes, challenging the idea that talent deserves greater reward.
Labor and Exploitation
Critique of the economist's view that educational costs justify higher income; Proudhon treats such costs as a debt to be repaid, not a source of profit.
Characters to notice
- Pierre Joseph Proudhon
Author and primary voice; argues that inequality of powers is the condition for equality of fortunes.
- Babeuf
Mentioned as wishing to repress all superiority as a social calamity.
- Jean Jacques Rousseau
Quoted on the difficulty of observing everyday truths.
- Say
Economist whose division of a physician's fortune is critiqued.
Key passages
“inequality of powers is the sine qua non of equality of fortunes.”
Inequality of abilities is absolutely necessary for equality of wealth.
Central thesis of the chapter.
“The expense of educating a talent is a debt contracted by this talent.”
The cost of developing a skill is a debt owed by that skill.
Proudhon's argument that talent must repay its educational costs, not profit from them.