Matthew Adams / Political Theory Workshop

MATTHEW ADAMS, ETHICS IN SOCIETY FELLOW, STANFORD UNIVERSITY

I argue that the most compelling justification for non-meritocratic affirmative action policies is that they increase comparatively disadvantaged people’s ability to exercise their basic liberties, rather than rectifying injustice in the narrow context of education and employment procedures. I present this justification using a Rawlsian contractualist framework to forge what I term a “nonideal principle of justice.” This principle supports non-meritocratic affirmative action policies under a wide range of conditions, and obviates the objection that such policies are unfair. In closing, I tease out some legal implications of my argument, and reflect more generally on the value of the conceptual innovation of nonideal principles of justice

The Political Theory Workshop offers faculty and other scholars an opportunity to present "in progress" or recently completed work to a diverse audience from political science, philosophy, law, and other social sciences and humanities.  Workshop papers come from all areas of political theory, including normative and positive theory, legal theory, and the history of political thought.  Papers are circulated ten days before the seminar. Participants are expected to read the paper before the workshop.  Each session begins with comments and questions on the paper by a discussant, a brief response from the author, followed by a general discussion.