Affirmative Action In Higher Education

Affirmative action has been a huge discussion in higher education for the reason being that it gives minorities the opportunity to become successful in life. Minorities are usually the ones who are looked down upon because they are not given the chance to become educated. Everyone deserves to be equal and be given the chance to face his or her individual rights. The goal for affirmative action is to have everyone be treated similarly as well as promoting diversity in education and everyday life. Affirmative action was passed because people wanted to give minorities more rights and stop discrimination between others. Though many people do not support affirmative action it has the best intentions, the practice of using race and ethnicity, as …show more content…
There are two arguments that support affirmative action, which are known as the compensatory and diversity argument. The past is not easily forgotten especially if people do not believe that the situation was fair. The compensatory argument is taking action for the past mistakes. The compensatory argument is affirmative action in higher education shows how minority students are not treated equally leading to racism as well as having a disadvantage. The argument states that minority students should be given more opportunities for the reason being that they had a disadvantage in the past. To be fair, with minority students we should be able to compensate and consider ethnicity in each applicant. When discrimination has been eliminated affirmative action should not take place, since society should accept equality in all ethnicity and race. The diversity argument is ensuring that the university has a various student body in order, to achieve the university’s mission statement. The university represents a mission statement that includes educational beliefs such as, critical thinking, reducing …show more content…
The universal law is described as “act only on that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” (Sandel page 120). This means that people should only take actions that set a specific principle without contradiction. Based on a situation there is always right or wrong answer on the ability to become universalized. The universal law states that we must determine if the action is right or wrong by imaging everyone doing the same thing constantly as well as thinking if it is universal towards society. For example, if affirmative action helped minorities gain the opportunities they never had and sharing that everyone should be equal if they have a good education as well as work skills then who is at harm. It can only help the society by becoming open towards equalism and diversity. Kant believed that to represent humanity people should treat others how they would like to be treated and respect the choices people make towards their everyday lives. Therefore, discrimination is wrong towards affirmative action for the reason being it violates people’s moral rights. Another version of categorical imperative is the formula of humanity as an end, which states that we should never treat someone to get an advantage for ourselves. Instead, treat someone as end to benefit