Egalitarianism is about Power
It is amazing that the ideological dogma of equality, in varying manifestations and degrees, is so widespread. Any somber examination of it quickly shows that it is hot air. That it “revolts against nature.” In cerebration, it falls apart very fast. Since it is incompatible with the nature of man and the physical world, it is impossible to achieve. Hence, it is not an "ideal" at all and is unable to coexist with man.
Though, the real force behind the egalitarian dogma is not that it is philosophically and intellectually believed in its totality. Instead it is a political weapon for the power elite.
Please allow me to suggest you all print out and read the great Murray N. Rothbard's marvelous 1995 essay [PDF] that examines this subject.
In the essay he explains the inegalitarian nature of mankind. He says that "One of the greatest glories of mankind is that ... each individual is unique, and hence irreplaceable." Rothbard then breaks down the whole notion of an "egalitarian society." He explains that the muddled goal of equality, among its supporters, is generally accepted a priori without question or justification. And that once you rationally explore applying the egalitarian principle in society, you soon find nature running the other way and find numerous indestructible barriers.
As far as the power intellectuals are concerned, we could say that they are engaged in "performative contradictions." It is these statist elites who are speaking of the wonders of equality, even though they cannot in any imagination be said to be examples of common, equal people. In a manner of speaking, they do not speak about equality on the playing field of equality. Neither do they give up their wealth or renounce their unequal position in society, which is another example of a performative contradiction they commit. Moreover, when we get down to it, the way to enforce "equality" can only be done through an inegalitarian power structure----hence, an inevitable performative contradiction.
Rothbard explains that nowadays, of course, the philosophy of egalitarianism is more about egalitarianism between groups than between individual men. Society is thus continually subdivided between "oppressors" and "victims." The "oppressors" (e.g., white heterosexual men) as a whole should feel collectively "guilty" for being in the group they are in. And the growing number of "victims" should be compensated for being in the group that they are in. Heaven forbid that there are any differences (which I suppose are "evil"), or that any differences between groups are natural (and are thus not caused by the "oppressors")!
Finally, he explains that equality is really used
as a political weapon. Critiques of egalitarianism, while useful and
important, miss the point. Egalitarianism is about power.