Discrimination and Race
(John Speaking)

 
 

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Fred
 
 
 

We have to consider whether a broad program of compensation (such as one based on our super-liberal principle) violates the rights of the white males who lose out when strong affirmative action is instituted.

What right might it violate? Some philosophers have argued that we each have a right to be considered for jobs strictly on the basis of our qualifications for doing the job. (I'm assuming that race and sex itself is not a qualification in the great majority of cases.) If someone takes this view, then it is clear that the older discrimination against blacks was wrong because it violated the rights of blacks; but it also means that any broad program of compensation conflicts with the rights of whites today.

Reference: Philosopher Alan Goldman argues for a right to be considered on the basis of one's ability to do a job. See his Justice and Reverse Discrimination, chapter two.

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