Primary Moral Wrong Committed by Discrimination
Discrimination is a social malpractice characterized by hatred, prejudice, and injustice. This malpractice is morally wrong. According to Arnold, Beauchamp, and Bowie (2012, p. 58), “the practice promotes inappropriate treatments on morally irrelevant grounds”. The practice also wrongs different individuals in the society.
Moral philosophy (also called ethics) examines the behaviors and actions of human beings in their respective societies. Discrimination is morally wrong because every perpetrator acts against an immutable trait. For example, gender discrimination is unjustifiable because it affects the rights of many women. The beneficence principle (BP) compels individuals to do good things.
This approach can play a significant role towards dealing with different ethical dilemmas. The other moral theory that examines the inappropriateness of discrimination is the Respect for Autonomy Principle. According to this principle, individuals have the right and power to achieve their goals in life. Human beings should also respect and support the rights of others.
The Justice Ethical Principle encourages individuals to embrace positive actions that can support the needs of their neighbors. Discrimination fails to protect the rights, expectations, and liberties of the affected individuals. This is the primary moral wrong committed by discrimination.
Primary Moral Justification in Favor of Affirmative Action
Affirmative action “has become a controversial issue because it deals with sensitive issues such as culture, religion, gender, and race” (Arnold et al., 2012, p. 67). Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative offers useful formulations towards supporting the concept of affirmative action. According to this theory, human beings have to act in a positive manner.
This practice will “ensure the maxims of their actions can become acceptable universal laws” (Arnold et al., 2012, p. 89). This argument explains why the world should never universalize any bad action. This situation explains why many theorists have justified the concept of affirmative action. Every society must identify and promote the best practices in order to support every struggling person in the society.
Affirmative action also promotes actions that can eventually become moral authorities (Arnold et al., 2012). Moral actions are useful because they promote happiness in the globe. Affirmative action is therefore relevant towards reducing cases of inequality in different societies.
Every individual in the universe should be ready to engage in acceptable actions. This practice will promote justice and equality. The moral justification that favors affirmative action is that human beings should be ready to embrace “good will”. This practice will produce a world that treats all people equally.
Is Affirmative Action Justified?
It is agreeable that affirmative action cannot address every inequality experienced in different societies. However, affirmative action makes it easier for communities to empower their people. Affirmative action increases the gains and goals of different minorities. It has the potential “to increase the level of representation in certain areas such as business, politics, employment, and education” (Burns & Schapper, 2008, p. 372).
This fact explains why every society should use affirmative action in order to support the rights of its people. The approach will empower many groups and individuals in every part of the world. Immanuel Kant believes that affirmative action “can eventually produce a cycle of social needs” (Burns & Schapper, 2008, p. 376).
The theorist goes further to embrace the concept of equality. Immanuel encourages every society to support the rights, liberties, and needs of its people. The approach will deal with most of the flaws experienced in our world. In conclusion, affirmative action is a reliable program that can deal with the dangers of discrimination.
Reference List
Arnold, D., Beauchamp, T., & Bowie, N. (2012). Ethical Theory and Business. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Burns, P., & Schapper, J. (2008). The Ethical Case for Affirmative Action. Journal of Business Ethics, 83(1), 369-379.