brute luck

political theory

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

In political theory, "brute luck" refers to circumstances beyond an individual's control that significantly impact their life prospects. This includes factors like the family or social class into which one is born, or natural talents one possesses.1

"Luck egalitarianism" is a concept that argues justice requires neutralizing the effects of these circumstances. Inequalities are considered unjust if they stem from brute luck. However, inequalities that arise from voluntary choices are deemed just. This distinction between choice and circumstance is central to luck egalitarianism, though critics note the difficulty in clearly separating them and argue the theory can be too harsh in holding individuals responsible for imprudent behavior.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

equal opportunity
Luck egalitarianism
…circumstances are a matter of brute luck—they are just if they are the product of people’s voluntary choices. Luck egalitarianism is thus a combination of two different claims: first, that justice requires the neutralization of the effects of differences in people’s circumstances, and, second, that it is just to require…
Read More
…circumstances are a matter of brute luck—they are just if they are the product of people’s voluntary choices. Luck egalitarianism is thus a combination of two different claims: first, that justice requires the neutralization of the effects of differences in people’s circumstances, and, second, that it is just to require…
Read More