RESOLVED: The phrase "Equal Opportunity" refers to probability, not possibility.

I. Probability doesn't make sense The literal Definition of "Equal Opportunity" is having the same quantity of favorable circumstances to create a possibility. (n) measure, quantity, amount (how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify) [1] I will like to point out quantity is not the same as quality, because quantity is an amount, whereas quality is a grade. (n) quality, caliber, calibre (a degree or grade of excellence or worth)[2] Within the definition of Equal Opportunity it clearly states, that opportunity refers to possibility, not probability. (n) possibility (a future prospect or potential) [3] probability is the chance that something may happen, whereas possibility is the potential of something to happen. (n) probability, chance (a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible) [4] Probability is a horrible method to measuring equal opportunity, because it ignores free will, as well as a wide variety of other x factors. Thus it is only natural that the definition would include possibility, and exclude probability. The Probability that one will remain in the bottom 50% of incomes is 50:50, whereas the probability that one will rise to the top 1% of incomes is 1:99. Probability is thus a good measure for calculating odds within a community, but it is horrible if used for the term equal opportunity. The Definition of equal opportunity further extended is; Having the same quantity of favorable circumstances to create a future prospect. If probability was to replace possibility in the definition, the extended definition would read; Having the same quantity of favorable circumstances to create the odds that an event will occur. If probability was to replace possibility in the definition; then the only way to have equal opportunity is if everyone had the same job, the same salary, and the same life entirely. II. Etymology of the phrase The word equal comes from the Latin aequālis,[5] meaning uniform, or unvarying.[6] It is comprised of the word aequ-, meaning even,[7] and the suffix -ālis , which is added to create an adjective, from a noun.[8] The word opportunity comes from the Latin opportunus,[9] meaning advantageous,[10] and the suffix -itas, which turns a adjective into a noun of state.[11] The Latin word opportunus, actually comes from the Latin phrase "ob portum veniens", which means, "coming towards a port".[12] The Latin phrase is thus either "aequalis opportunitas", or "aequalis ob portum veniens" The Latin phrase "aequalis opportunitas"means "even with advantages", while the latin phrase "aequali ob portum veniens",means "even with port because of when he came". Thus from the Latin we see that opportunity originally referred to an event, which was considered advantageous, and equal opportunity refers to having the same opportunities, or else an even number of opportunities. When we look at the origin of the word opportunity, and the Latin phrase "ob portum veniens", we can see clear as day that opportunity is not referring to probable odds, but rather a possible event. The origin of the word probable comes from the Latin probabilis, meaning that may be proved,[13] while the word possible comes from the Latin word possibilis, meaning that may be done. [14] Probabilis comes from the Latin word probare, meaning to test,[13] while possibilis comes from the Latin word possum, meaning able. [14] Since equal opportunity refers to equal ability, and not equal testing, equal opportunity thus refers to possibility, not probability. III. Summary Since the given definition states that opportunity refers to possibility, and since the expanded definition of equal opportunity makes no sense with possibility replaced with probability; the definition of equal opportunity refers to possibility. Furthermore the Etymology of the words, clearly indicates that opportunity originates from advantageous events; whereas probable come from a Latin word meaning that may be proved, possible comes from a Latin word meaning, that may be done; thus possible’s etymology is compatible with opportunity, whereas probable’s etymology is not. 1. http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu... 2. http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu... 3. http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu... 4. http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu... 5. http://en.wiktionary.org... 6. http://en.wiktionary.org...; 7. http://en.wiktionary.org... 8. http://en.wiktionary.org... 9. http://en.wiktionary.org... 10. http://en.wiktionary.org... 11. http://en.wiktionary.org... 12. http://en.wiktionary.org... 13. http://en.wiktionary.org... 14. http://en.wiktionary.org...