Diversity
(John Speaking)

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Fred
 
 
 

There is another argument that we should think about. It is sometimes said that affirmative action is justified because it increases "diversity" in some of our important institutions.

This argument is often made in colleges and professional schools. Some argue that it is important to diversify the student body. Others argue that we should diversify the faculty.

You could base this sort of argument on a principle of compensation, but right now I'm not talking about that. The arguments I'm talking about are utilitarian arguments. The claim is that diversity produces lots of benefits --for schools, for business, and so on.

Reference: For one statement of the argument based on the value of diversity, see Chang-Lin Tien "Diversity and Excellence in Higher Education" in Debating Affirmative Action edited by Nicolaus Mills.

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