An essential, updated guide to contemporary debate on affirmative action. Comprises nearly three decades of writing on the subject from the foundations to the up to the minute discussions.

This updated collection provides an essential guide to contemporary debate on affirmative action, often attacked as 'positive discrimination'. Useful for both students and general readers, it comprises nearly three decades of writing on the subject. Will be of interest to those in the fields of law, American history, politics and contemporary moral issues.

Acknowledgements Introduction Steven M. Chan I. Individuals, groups, and discrimination 1. Discrimination and morally relevant characteristics James W. Nickel 2. Inverse discrimination J.L. Cowan 3. Reparations to wronged groups Michael D Bayles 4. Reverse discrimination and contemporary justice Paul W. Taylor 5. Reverse discrimination William A. Nunn III 6. Should reparations be to individuals or groups? James W. Nickel 7. Reparations to individuals or groups? Alan H. Goldman 8. What's wrong with discrimination? Paul Woodruff II.
Justice and Compensation 9. Prefential hiring Judith Jarvis
Thomson 10. Prefential hiring: A reply to Judith Jarvis Thomson Robert Simon 11. Justifying reverse discrimination in employment George Sher 12. Prefential hiring and compensation
Robert K. Fullinwider 13. Compensatory justice: The question of costs Robert Amadur III. The Bakke cas 14. Who are equals? Carl Cohen 15. Are quotas unfair? Ronald Dworkin 16. What did Bakke really decide? Ronald Dworkin Equality, diversity, and good faith Carl Cohen IV. Diveristy 18. In defence of
affirmative action Bartara R. Bergmann 19. The role model argument and faculty diversity Anita L. Allen 20. Proportional representation of women and minorities Celia Wolf-Devine 21. 'The Meaning of "Merit"' William G. Bowen and Derek Bok 22. 'The Meaning of "Merit"': A reply to Bowen and Bok Stephan Thernstrom and Abigain Thernstrom 23. Diversity George Sher V. Preference or impartiality? 27. In favor of affirmative
action Tom L. Beauchamp 28. Reverse discrimination Sidney Hook Epilogue A. Three puzzles concerning affirmative action Steven M. Cahn B. Making affirmative action work The Chronicle of HIgher Education About the authors Bibliographical note Acknowledgements