A human society that values equality benefits more than one that values hierarchy alone.

TermsEgalitarianism – Principles and ideals that values and promotes opportunities for social, economic, and political, equality for all members of a human society.Hierarchy – A means of restricting or stratifying human society according to categories, such as: class, caste, economic status, or other division, which in essence reserves certain privileges for an elite few, while simultaneously denying them to all others. Intro/Statement of Issue: A human society that values equality benefits more than one that values hierarchy alone. History demonstrates that equality creates greater opportunities than hierarchy. Studies have shown that the promotion of egalitarian ideals are beneficial. A prime example of egalitarian ideals given form is the United States. One needs only look at The Dark Ages to see just howhierarchical thinking lead directly to widespread inequality and suffering ofthe masses. When we see how the Catholic Empire collapsed, bringing forth a“rebirth.” As this movement continued to grow Europe woke up from a long, baddream: works of art, literature, trade, exploration, and the spread of humanism,led to populist sentiments that every human being has inherent value, andshould be afforded an equal opportunity to succeed. It would take centuries forthis to reach fruition, but it began with the downfall of a hierarchy. A moremodern example of hierarchical thinking run amok is Nazi Germany. A tyrannicalpolice state that stripped its’ people of all their rights, killed millions ofJews for the “crime” of being born; and plunged the world into war, costingmillions more lives. A study (http://www.dur.ac.uk...)by the Equality Trust, clearly demonstrates how equality benefits everyone,both rich and poor. The presentation available in the link demonstratesdemographic charts and statistical data that clearly shows that the promotionof equality works, more people benefit from a commitment to providing greateropportunities to excel. Finally, the United States was the first nation founded uponideals and principles of liberty, self-determination, and equality. Thefounders of this great nation were not saints, and they were not always right,but they established a template by which future generations would be able toimprove upon their model. “…We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creatorwith certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and thePursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are institutedamong Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed--…” http://www.archives.gov... Over the course of 236 years, thepromise of this model has resulted in the abolishment of slavery, the triumphof women’s suffrage, and the establishment of Civil Rights for all citizens.There are still more wrongs yet to be righted, but the promise ofegalitarianism holds greater benefits overall. The promise of the United Statesof America remains great. Conclusion: Hierarchies cannot promise equality. All they can do iscreate more inequality. The adherence to principles of liberty,self-determination, and equality, has helped to create a better world. There ismore to be done. Humans are creatures of habit, they have become conditioned toidealize egalitarianism, but accept hierarchical thinking that divides andstratifies, creating only weakness and suffering. While humanity may not beable to completely shake off its need for hierarchy, it is better served whenit strives to grow beyond its limitations, when it stretches beyond the sum ofits parts to achieve something greater still.