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Category: Societal Issues
Date Submitted: 07/25/2010 09:02 AM
Article by Edwin C. Hettinger Business Ethics Class Assignment
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Agenda
Article Summary
Spurious Objections Legitimate Objections
Link article to other course material Real Life Example Discussion
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Article Summary
Hettinger presents objections to reverse discrimination in two parts:
1. Spurious Objections: weaker objections for why
reverse discrimination is morally troubling
2. Legitimate Objections: lawful objections for why
reverse discrimination is morally troubling
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Hettinger’s view
“ By ‘reverse discrimination’ or ‘affirmative action’ I shall mean hiring or admitting a slightly less well qualified woman or black, rather than a slightly more qualified white male, for the purpose of helping to eradicate sexual and/or racial inequality, or for the purpose of compensating women and blacks for the burdens and injustices they have suffered due to past and ongoing sexism and racism.”
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Spurious Objections (1/3)
1. Reverse Discrimination (RD) as Equivalent to Racism
and Sexism
Argument: Same as traditional racism and sexism Hettinger’s view: Not at all alike
2. Race and Sex as Morally Arbitrary and Irrelevant
Characteristics
Argument: Morally arbitrary to consider race or sex when hiring Hettinger’s view: Agrees, however in some instances it is morally acceptable to discriminate
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Spurious Objections (2/3)
3. Reverse Discrimination as Unjustified Stereotyping
Argument: RD involves stereotyping instead of judging people on their individual characteristics - unjust Hettinger’s view: Agrees, example of poor white male from Appalachia
4. Failing to Hire the Most Qualified Person Is Unjust
Argument: The most qualified person should get the job – therefore most think RD is unjust Hettinger’s view: presents arguments in terms of four variables (Efficiency, right, desert, and entitlement to the job)
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Spurious Objections (3/3)
5. Undermining Equal Opportunity for White Males
Argument: Reverse...