Philosophy 1120

Professional Ethics
Race & Gender Issues

What is Affirmative Action?

Definition
Steps taken to increase the
representation of women and minorities
in areas where they have been historically
excluded (Fullwinder 2009)
E.g. education, employment, and business

Comprehension Question
Which of the following is not a form of
affirmative action, according to our definition?
A) Giving an advantage to African American
applicants during university admissions
B) Offering free SAT prep in a predominantly African
American neighborhood in order to help more
African American students get admitted to college
C) Providing financial reparations to the
descendants of slaves
D) All of the above are examples of affirmative
action

What is Affirmative Action?

Preferential Hiring
Is a form of affirmative action
Where people are hired because they
are minorities or women

Preferential Admissions
Is also a form of affirmative action
Where people are admitted because
they are minorities or women

Four Versions of Preferential

Hiring
PH1) Selection among equally
qualified candidates
PH2) Selection among comparable
candidates
PH3) Selection among unequal
candidates
PH4) Selection among qualified and
unqualified candidates

Questions
Some questions about preferential
hiring/admissions?
1) Is it legal?
2) Should it be legal?
3) Is it morally permissible?

Were going to focus on 3)

1) is a question for lawyers
2) is a question for legislators deciding what the
law should be
3) is a question that professionals face even when
preferential hiring/admissions is legal

The Considering Race is Wrong

Argument
The Argument
1) It is wrong to consider to race when
making hiring decisions
2) Preferential hiring considers race
3) Preferential hiring is wrong

Dick Cheney
The Movie

The Desert Argument

The Argument
1) Candidates deserve to be judged solely
on the basis of their qualifications
2) Preferential hiring does not do this
3) Preferential hiring involves not giving
people what they deserve

Problem
Most people act as if 1) is false
Does Henry Ford II deserve to be head of
Ford Motor company?

The Argument from

Injustices
The Argument
1) Minorities and women were and continue to
be victims of unjust policies
2) Justice requires compensating victims of
unjust policies
3) Justice requires compensating minorities and
women (from 1 and 2)
4) Preferential hiring of women and minorities is
a form of compensation
5) Preferential hiring of women and minorities
fulfills a requirement of justice