Individualism intensifies the moral idealization of wealth as society fragments

Evidence

Under paternalism, the group basis of social life is exalted by dominants as they exhort subordinates to abide by and honor its precepts. But when that comes under challenge from subordinates, dominants move to deny the group basis of social life and the legitimacy of group-based demands. Individualism is elevated to a lofty moral principle. This renders subordinates’ new demand for equality of outcomes morally unacceptable because of its brazen disrespect for the rights of individuals (e.g., “reverse discrimination”), and political debate is rechanneled into less threatening questions about the degree to which equality of opportunity is available to all individuals (e.g., the conservative call for a “color-blind” society). The new defense of the status quo manipulates the idealistic goal of equal treatment espoused by Allport, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others in the 1950s. The idea of equality of opportunity only has meaning in a world in which inequality of outcomes is a given, and ironically, the latter renders the former unattainable because of the handicaps it dispenses unequally to the various competitors (Schaar, 1967). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 674 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Individualism becomes a moral defense of the status quo once group-based paternalism is challenged; Individualism becomes a defense of the status quo by delegitimizing group-based demands; Dominants adopt individualism as a new defense when group-based hierarchy is challenged — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 674 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Dominants adopt individualism as a new defense when group-based hierarchy is challenged #expands (0.90) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 674
• Individualism becomes a moral defense of the status quo once group-based paternalism is challenged #expands (0.85)
• Individualism becomes a defense of the status quo by delegitimizing group-based demands #expands (0.85)