<p>“Justice is equality, but only for equals; and justice is inequality, but only for those who are unequal.” - Aristotle (Politics)</p>
<p>The law does not require every seller to treat every buyer exactly equally in every transaction. Some differences do justify unequal treatment. For example, families with children aren’t allowed to buy property in a retirement community. Other differences don’t justify unequal treatment. For example, the law has established that skin color is not a justified basis for unequal treatment in the housing market.</p>
<p>I do think it is reasonable for a college to interpret an applicant’s “objective” achievements (such as SAT scores) in light of his or her opportunities and challenges. This flexibility can benefit not only the individual applicant but the whole college community. The same principle applies to how colleges weigh athletic or artistic talent against grades and test scores. Different colleges apply different weights in shaping the kind of class they want to admit. This is a distinctive feature of American higher education.</p>