| Abstract
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This paper outlines the problem of inequality in economic, social, biblical and theological terms. It discusses three concepts of equality before making a relatively novel proposal of its own. The first, equality of outcome, is dismissed for failing to pay sufficient attention to the inequities it engenders and its failure to take seriously the issue of personal responsibility. The second, equality of opportunity, is shown to be more promising but this is critiqued for its propagation of a hierarchy of socially desirable goods. Sen is correct to argue that variegated definitions of the good life imply that any simple concept of equality of opportunity is insufficient. In contrast, this paper draws attention to the idea of justice as participation and in the process reframes this to define and argue for an equality of participation concept in which the equalisandum is located in relationships rather than outcomes, opportunities or capabilities. This paper outlines the problem of inequality in economic, social, biblical and theological terms. It discusses three concepts of equality before making a relatively novel proposal of its own. The first, equality of outcome, is dismissed for failing to pay sufficient attention to the inequities it engenders and its failure to take seriously the issue of personal responsibility. The second, equality of opportunity, is shown to be more promising but this is critiqued for its propagation of a hierarchy of socially desirable goods. Sen is correct to argue that variegated definitions of the good life imply that any simple concept of equality of opportunity is insufficient. In contrast, this paper draws attention to the idea of justice as participation and in the process reframes this to define and argue for an equality of participation concept in which the equalisandum is located in relationships rather than outcomes, opportunities or capabilities.
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