> Where did I conflate socioeconomic mobility and income equality? The first section of your comment was about socioeconomic mobility, but starting with the "t

> Where did I conflate socioeconomic mobility and income equality? The first section of your comment was about socioeconomic mobility, but starting with the "two axioms" portion, you started talking about inequality instead. The two concepts are different, although related. > I respond by asking whether or not the socioeconomic standing of a scientist matters for the societal impact of their work. Not very, but for people at the bottom of the ladder, they need some socioeconomic mobility to become a scientist in the first place. > if reduced socioeconomic mobility can't be demonstrated to be a net loss for society That's presupposing that it can't, and thus begging the question.