I N T R O

Intro to Utility

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Those who write about affirmative action sometimes distinguish between the "backward looking" and the "forward looking" justifications. The former focus on the injustices of the past and the need for affirmative action to erase their effects. The latter look to the future and claim that affirmative action will bring about desirable changes or a desirable state of affairs no matter what happened in the past.

For example, someone might say that strong affirmative action is good because it will reduce poverty. This is an argument based on utility, not past injustice and its compensation.

In this section, the speakers will discuss arguments based on consequences, not rights. While reading, you might want to think about the relationship between these two kinds of argument.

Reference: Bernard Boxill makes the distinction between forward looking and backward looking arguments in his book Blacks & Social Justice.

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