D.M. McMahon's 'Uguaglianza. Storia di un'idea sfuggente' Examined by Francesca Rigotti

Francesca Rigotti reviews D.M. McMahon's book 'Uguaglianza. Storia di un'idea sfuggente' (DeriveApprodi, 2026) for Doppiozero. The review, published on 24 September 2026, opens with the preamble of the United States Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, which states that all men are created equal. Rigotti notes that this principle is often taken for granted as universal, like democracy or human rights. However, reading McMahon's book—described as beautiful, serious, important, and full of information and ideas—leaves the reader somewhat disconcerted. The review questions the assumption that equality has always been a value, suggesting that McMahon's historical analysis reveals its contingent and elusive nature. Rigotti also reflects on the Italian spelling of 'eguaglianza' versus 'uguaglianza', citing Treccani's guidance that 'eguaglianza' is less common in generic and mathematical contexts but fairly common in political-social discourse, which is the focus of the book. The review does not provide further details on McMahon's arguments or the book's specific historical claims. The publication is a review in the Italian cultural magazine Doppiozero, and the book is published by DeriveApprodi in 2026.