Work

Using Affirmative Action as a Tiebreaker

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT We argue in favor of affirmative action. There are two central points to our argument. First, if two or more candidates for a position are matched in competence, then one ought to prefer a candidate from a disadvantaged, disenfranchised, or minority background rather than defer to the outcome of a lottery. Second, a closer look at actual selection procedures reveals that situations where candidates are matched in competence are much more common than one might think. Our argument results in a robust justification for affirmative action from minimally controversial premises.

Source: Journal of Applied Philosophy

DOI: 10.1111/japp.70064

Authors: Shalom Chalson, James Bernard Willoughby

Institutions: Australian National University, National University of Singapore

Language: English

Topic: Political Philosophy and Ethics

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,980