"The cry of equality pulls everyone down"

Iris Murdoch’s assertion that “the cry of equality pulls everyone down” invites a probing look at the nature of equality itself and its nuanced consequences in society. Murdoch, ever attuned to the complexities of human morality and the workings of power, highlights the paradoxical danger in the sometimes-unreflective drive for egalitarianism. More than a straightforward rejection of equality, the phrase suggests skepticism toward a superficial or enforceable version of sameness that disregards individual differences, excellence, or aspiration.

When “the cry of equality” dominates social, political, or cultural landscapes, it often risks prioritizing uniformity over liberty and merit. Instead of lifting the disadvantaged or marginalized up, a dogmatic pursuit of equality can, at worst, result in a leveling down of talents or ambitions. Envy or resentment may become the primary motivators, and rather than fostering collective progress, such dynamics can stifle innovation, discourage distinction, and ultimately lower standards rather than raise opportunities.

Murdoch’s philosophical background, influenced by moral realism and the belief in transcendent values, lends further depth. She points to a tension between the admirable moral impulse towards ensuring fairness for all and the less desirable consequences of enforcing equality in ways that ignore the richness of human capabilities. True equality supports everyone reaching their potential, not simply erasing all difference. The warning is not against equality itself, but against making it a blunt instrument that sacrifices depth, excellence, or individuality in pursuit of outward sameness.

The phrase also gently critiques the tendency of some egalitarian movements to become punitive or authoritarian, achieving equality not by empowering all but by truncating the gifts and possibilities of the few. In seeking justice, Murdoch urges the possibility of elevating the whole without diminishing the distinctiveness, talents, or aspirations that make society flourish. It is a caution to remember that equality should mean not sameness, but the flourishing of each person according to their unique gifts.