Abstract

This paper deals with the meanings and implications of equality of treatment. Following a certain account of what is meant by equality and difference, in the first part I focus on the concept of equality, its relevance in law, and ethical or political grounds for difference, or equality of treatment. On the basis of these elements, in the second part I examine the meaning of the so-called corollary of the principle of equality - i.e. the priority of equality of treatment on the difference in treatment: I highlight how equality requires, in the majority of cases, a balance between the specificity of the ruled case and the generality of the rule of law.