Sociology and Equality

Abstract

“Social inequality has always been one of the major preoccupations of sociology - largely, perhaps, because of the strong moral commitment which many sociologists bring to their work.” So say Penguin Education, in heavy type, in introducing a collection of readings on Social Inequality, edited by André Béteille. No doubt there is something in their suggested explanation. But I shall show in the present chapter that there are also strong occupational temptations to seduce sociologists into believing both that people naturally are, and that ideally they ought to be, more equal than - for better or for worse - actually is the case.