The Virtue of Discrimination Essay - 1065 Words

The Virtue of Discrimination Discrimination is a word that has taken on a negative connotation in todays society. Since the beginning of the equal rights movement, the perceived meaning of the word discrimination has shifted from that of a useful virtue to one of an insulting, derogatory word. Robert Keith Miller wrote an essay for Newsweek in the summer of 1980 that focuses on the discrepancies in the use of the word discrimination. â€Å"Discrimination Is a Virtue† points out the differences in the dictionary’s definition of the word discrimination and the perceived societal definition of the word. Miller explains the confusion of the word discrimination with the words discriminate against and worries that discrimination may be†¦show more content†¦He seeks to eliminate the negative association with the word discrimination and writes the article in an attempt to illustrate the need for discrimination in society. Miller presents discrimination as â€Å"a virtue which we desperate ly need†(87). He uses the issue of â€Å"mainstreaming† in the school system to illustrate its’ lack of discrimination and similarly, our mental health systems perceived rush to return its’ patients to the â€Å"real world†(86). Miller also points out the irony of our societies ability to use good discrimination in our day to day lives but not as a group when making important governmental policies(86). These examples are used to illustrate the benefit of discrimination in our schools, mental health system and governmental policy making. He ultimately seeks to keep his readers open-minded, â€Å"but not so open-minded that our brains fall out† (87). â€Å"Discrimination Is a Virtue† uses a compare and contrast structured argument to illustrate the virtues of discrimination. Miller begins this argument by first defining discrimination as â€Å"the ability to tell differences† (86). He also uses the Oxford English Dictionary to define it as â€Å"discernment; the ability to perceive the truth, use good judgment and to profit accordingly† (86). This same Dictionary â€Å"traces this understanding of the word back to 1648 and demonstrates that for the next 300Show MoreRelatedThe Aspects Of Business Ethics1435 Words   |  6 PagesOver the course of this semester, we have covers several aspects of business ethics. I will be covering Chapter 11, Diversity and Discrimination, to break down discrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action. I served in the military for 13 years, and there are regulations that pertain to these three topics. The Armed Forces is a very diverse organization, and all enti ties stress regulations and procedures when it comes to equal opportunity. During my time in the U.S. Army, I had leadersRead MoreThe Benefits Of Human Reproductive Cloning989 Words   |  4 Pages(Sanchez-Sweatman 2000). Indirectly, there is a strong likelihood for social resentment and discrimination towards clones which would be a form of psychological and social deprivation. The discrimination in modern society is abundant of discrimination and social resentment towards any sort of deviant of the social norm, even belated to the introduction of human clones into society. Specifically looking discrimination under sexual orientation, based on statistics presented by the National Gay and LesbianRead MoreAffirmative Action Essay968 Words   |  4 Pagesslavery and discrimination and women had very little liberty. In the present, the United States is much closer to equality, yet gender and race still play a role in life’s opportunities given the high frequency of affirmativ e action programs; they attempt to increase the representation of minorities on college campuses and in the office, regardless of virtue. Programs of affirmative action arouse controversy because some groups view affirmative action as a catalyst for reverse discrimination whilst otherRead MoreSegregation vs. Integration1387 Words   |  6 Pagescivil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was created which fought for civil rights among African Americans. Although after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed any form of discrimination and segregation, the topic of segregation and integration still remains a contentious debate in America. Three writers who have opposing ideas on this topic are Daniel T. Lichter, Michael S. Murray, and Danielle Holley-Walker. Daniel Lichter opposesRead MoreMoral and Ethical Issues1713 Words   |  7 Pagesbasic moral question in this approach is: How fair is an action? Does it trea t everyone in the same way, or does it show discrimination or favoritism? Favoritism gives benefits to some people without a justifiable reason for singling them out; discrimination imposes burdens on people who are no different from those on whom burdens are not imposed. Both favoritism and discrimination are unjust and wrong. The common-good Approach to ethics assumes a society comprising individuals whose own good is inextricablyRead MoreEssay on Ethics Case Study1554 Words   |  7 Pageslifestyles. Furthermore, if the school accepts the sponsorship offered in conjunction with the stipulated conditions it would ultimately be endorsing discrimination against Molly based on her appearance. The focus ethical frameworks that have been use to provide my final recommendations for this scenario are Consequentialism, Non-Consequentialism, Virtue Ethics and Care Ethics. Consequentialism is an action-based decision making framework which determines whether an act is right or wrong based onRead MoreCase Analysis : Goodyear Tire And Rubber Company1337 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscusses a case of Ledbetter vs the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company where Lilly Ledbetter, the only female production supervisor at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company’s plant in Gadsent, had worked for over 20 years. She sued the company over gender discrimination in regard to her pay in 1998. Her salary was as much as 40 percent lower than that of the lowest-paid male supervisor (Brake and Grossman, 2007). Her lawsuit was rejected as untimely by The Supreme Court, who issued a 5-4 ruling because sheRead MoreAffirmative Action: Equality for All? Essay1741 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative action contradicts itself, by saying that racial discrimination is wrong and we should all have equal opportunities in a color-blind society but then gives opportunities solely based on r ace. Affirmative action is unethical and this idea is supported by moral philosophy subjects such as Kantianism, Utilitarianism, Social Contract, and Virtue Theory. Arguments against affirmative action are that it: creates reverse discrimination, lowers standards for minorities, and demeans true minorityRead MoreThe Problem Of A Virtual Unethical Stigma1205 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to virtue ethical system, ethnicity should not be a deciding factor despite the common belief that diversity help students learn by creating diverse perspectives. Virtue ethics is an approach to ethics that emphasizes an individual s character as the key element of ethical thinking. Virtue ethical theories originate to ancient Greek philosophy discussion of what were recognized as the four cardinal virtues- wisdom, justice, fortitude and temperance. The roots of virtue theory lie inRead MoreEmployment-At-Will Doctrine Essay1277 Words   |  6 Pages At the same time the paper will address the importance of whistleblower police for any organization. While the employment-at-will allows employers to terminate their staff at any moment, at the same time it protect the staff from any type of discrimination. Employment-At-Will According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (2013), most of the countries around the world permit the termination of employment with a legitimate cause. However, in the United States is different; employ/employer