In Defense of Affirmative Action

Author: Beauchamp T.L.

Source: The Journal of Ethics, Volume 2, Number 2, 1998 , pp. 143-158(16)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Affirmative action refers to positive steps taken to hire persons from groups previously and presently discriminated against. Considerable evidence indicates that this discrimination is intractable and cannot be eliminated by the enforcement of laws. Numerical goals and quotas are justified if and only if they are necessary to overcome the discriminatory effects that could not otherwise be eliminated with reasonable efficiency. Many past as well as present policies are justified in this way.

Keywords: affirmative action; preferential policies; quotas; reverse discrimination

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Philosophy and Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Washington DC 20057-1076, USA

Publication date: 1998-01-01