This book is recommended for anyone interested in understanding, questioning, articulating, and acting on the basis of their own and others’ perspectives on sexism, racism, and affirmative action in American higher education. –ChoiceWhile equal opportunity for all candidates is widely recognized as a goal within academia, the implementation of specific procedures to achieve equality has resulted in vehement disputes regarding both the means and ends. To encourage a reexamination of this issue, Cahn asked three prominent American social philosophers–Leslie Pickering Francis, Robert L. Simon, and Lawrence C. Becker–who hold divergent views about affirmative action, to write extended essays presenting their views. Twenty-two other philosophers then respond to these three principal essays. While no consensus is reached, the resulting clash of reasoned judgments will serve to revitalize the issues raised by affirmative action.ContentsIntroduction – Steven M. CahnPart I1. In Defense of Affirmative Action – Leslie Pickering Francis2. Affirmative Action and the University: Faculty Appointment and Preferential Treatment – Robert L. Simon3. Affirmative Action and Faculty Appointments – Lawrence C. BeckerPart II4. What Good Am I? – Laurence Thomas5. Who Counts on Campus? – Ann Hartle6. Reflections on Affirmative Action in Academia – Robert G. Turnbull7. The Injustice of Strong Affirmative Action – John Kekes8. Preferential Treatment Versus Purported Meritocratic Rights – Richard J. Arneson9. Faculties as Civil Societies: A Misleading Model for Affirmative Action – Jeffrie G. Murphy10. Facing Facts and Responsibilities – The White Man’s Burden and the Burden of Proof – Karen Hanson11. Affirmative Action: Relevant Knowledge and Relevant Ignorance – Joel J. Kupperman12. Remarks on Affirmative Action – Andrew Oldenquist13. Affirmative Action and the Multicultural Ideal – Philip L. Quinn14. Affirmative Action in the Cultural Wars – Frederick A. Olafson15. Quotas by Any Name: Some Problems of Affirmative Action in Faculty Appointments – Tom L. Beauchamp16. Are Quotas Sometimes Justified? – James Rachels17. Proportional Representation of Women and Minorities – Celia Wolf-Devine18. An Ecological Concept of Diversity – La Verne Shelton19. Careers Open to Talent – Ellen Frankel Paul20. Some Sceptical Doubts – Alasdair MacIntyre21. Affirmative Action and Tenure Decisions – Richard T. De George22. Affirmative Action and the Awarding of Tenure – Peter J. Markie23. The Case for Preferential Treatment – James P. Sterba24. Saying What We Think – Fred Sommers25. Comments on Compromise and Affirmative Action – Alan H. GoldmanAbout the AuthorsIndex About the Author(s)Steven M. Cahn is Professor of Philosophy and former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He has published numerous other books, including Morality, Responsibility, and the University (Temple).Contributors: Laurence Thomas, Ann Hartle, Robert G. Turnbull, John Kekes, Richard J. Arneson, Jeffrie G. Murphy, Karen Hanson, Joel J. Kupperman, Andrew Oldenquist, Philip L. Quinn, Frederick A. Olafson, Tom L. Beauchamp, James Rachels, Celia Wolf-Devine, La Verne Shelton, Ellen Frankel Paul, Alasdair MacIntyre, Richard T. De George, Peter J. Markie, James P. Sterba, Fred Sommers, Alan H. Goldman, and the editor.