Does Affirmative Action Make Moral Sense - 1084 Words

Does affirmative action make moral sense? A moral being is one capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct, but a big question that follows concerns the idea if there even is such a thing as â€Å"right conduct.† â€Å"Whatever can be proved to be good, must be so by being shown to be a means to something admitted to be good† (Mill 6). In John Stuart Mill’s book, â€Å"Utilitarianism,† he states this notion where an individual assumes good things are good without knowing why they’re good. Defined from the National Conference of State Legislatures, Affirmative action policies are those in which an institution or organization actively engages in efforts to improve opportunities for historically excluded groups in American society. Mainly focused†¦show more content†¦Taking a look at certain racial or ethnic groups often with financial disadvantages are not exposed to the resources individuals from higher socioeconomic stand points. The same opportunities withheld in the higher education atmosphere also apply to the employment atmosphere. Affirmative action overall offers opportunity to the groups that have a lesser chance do to specific factors like finances, social class, language barriers, population percentage in the establishments, etc. â€Å"The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the revers e of happiness† (Mill 9). In Mills view, the key concept of which the foundation of morals accepts are actions that promote happiness, and when institutions and establishments offer opportunities of a lifetime, happiness is bound to be found. Which in the view of the question, Affirmative action does make moral sense. On the other hand, Affirmative action has a vice that creates negative tension. The National Conference of State Legislatures states that affirmative action was created to ensure fair admission practices and to rectify a long period of racial discrimination. The policy is outdated, however, and causes a form of