Section 2: Conceptions of Equality of Opportunity

This section surveys some of the most influential conceptions of equality of opportunity and some of the key debates about them.

In particular, we focus on formal equality of opportunity, meritocratic equality of opportunity, fair equality of opportunity and equality of opportunity for welfare. Each of these conceptions provides a general and abstract philosophical principle, which specifies the goals and obstacles that proponents claim capture our intuitive concern with equality of opportunity.

• Formal Equality of Opportunity
• Meritocracy
• Fair Equality of Opportunity
• Equality of Opportunity for Welfare