Uniform Inheritance: The Argument from Liberal Neutrality

Suppose we accept the principles of liberty and equality, and also believe that political morality must be sensitive to people’s ambitions, that is, what people care about and value, without assuming the superiority of any one of their different conceptions of the good. What should we think about the permissibility of bequest and inheritance? This paper argues that within these constraints we can justify a “uniform inheritance” scheme. This scheme permits inheritance up to a level that is in line with the ambition of the average parent to bequeath to their children, and obliges all parents to bequeath to their children at that level so as to maintain equality in the next generation. Uniform inheritance is justified assuming that most people prefer the opportunity to bequeath to their children, yet also protects equality among children.