Does the definition of "equal" cover capabilities & talents or is it just "equal opportunity and treatment"?

Question

Does the definition of "equal" cover capabilities & talents or is it just "equal opportunity and treatment"?

Answer 1

I think it means that you "can go up for the same things as I have, even if you are lower in status".  BUT, "you will have to try harder and longer at getting there".

Answer 2

AXN said it good.

Equality is having every racer start on the starting line, all lined up.

How do you mean "cover capabilities and talents"? You mean like does it accomodate the incapable?

I dunno, i'd need more info on that.

Answer 3

Mostly I just want equal opportunity and treatment. I'm not going to bother getting into arguments over what s*x does what things better, because it's pointless. But if an individual person is capable of handling a task, then they should have the opportunity to do so, regardless of their s*x.

Answer 4

That depends.  Are you comparing two whole groups of people, or are you comparing two individuals?  

If you are comparing, for example, all men and all women, then "equal" covers both capabilities and talents AND equal opportunity and treatment.  Men and women have different abilities, but they are equal in value and necessity for human survival, and they of course deserve equal opportunity and treatment.  

But if you are talking about two individuals, then "equal" may only mean that they are entitled to equal opportunity and treatment...it may not mean that they are equal in capabilities and talents.  One person who is intelligent, attractive, athletic, healthy, creative, and ambitious obviously has the lion's share of capabilities and talents compared to someone who is just average.  But despite that, they both still deserve equal treatment and equal opportunity.

Answer 5

When I use the term in relation to gender, I mean equal opportunity and treatment.  To suggest that the genders have equal capabilities and talents is ridiculous...too broad and sweeping a statement.

Answer 6

The word is not intrinsically related to any specific concept, such as capacity or talent or opportunity.  It can be used in reference to each of those terms and many more, but it would have to be used in some context to make that sort of an assessment, although the part of speech does have some impact.  Basically, the word equal refers to the idea of sameness or a lack of variation between two or more things which are being compared.