STUDY UNIT 3: CHAPTER 9

Question 1

FOUR DISTINCT SETS OF NORMS

Answer 1

1. Beneficiaries
2. Strategies, including considerations of the best means.
3. the extent of rectification
4. justification

Question 2

THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPENSATION

Answer 2

the principle is that “if person A has wronged person B, then person A ought to compensate person B for the wrong.”

Question 3

A VALID CLAIM…

Answer 3

a valid claim for compensation involves, in part, clarity regarding who should receive compensation, since compensating someone other than the wronged party would be unjust.

Question 4

THOMSON DISTINGUISHES TWO SPECIFIC CLAIMS:

Answer 4

a. that the situations of black people and women have significantly improved relatively from what it was in the past.
b. that the current generations of young black people and women have not been wronged at all.

Question 5

TWO REASONS WHY THOMSON THINKS IT IS FALSE THAT YOUNG BLACK PERSON AND WOMEN HAVE NOT BEEN WRONGED AT ALL:

Answer 5

1. the relevant historical injustices were not towards individuals as such, but were directed at black people and women each as a group
2. the relevant historical injustices are self-perpetuating, in that, although they were made in the past, they are able to yield further disadvantages for members of these groups.

Question 6

CORPORATE AND PERSONAL LIABILITY:

Answer 6

a valid claim of compensation requires not just determining whom should be compensated but also who is liable to compensate.

Question 7

THOMSON OFFERS TWO DISTINCT BUT RELATED REASONS WHY PREFERENTIAL HIRING, AND NOT FINANCIAL COMPENSATION, IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE MEANS TO COMPENSATE BLACK PEOPLE AND WOMEN:

Answer 7

1. financial compensation is unlikely to restore the self-respect of black people and women, it is not the best form of compensation.
2. being in possession of a job and doing it well is more likely to restore the self-respect of black people and women, and so preference in employment decisions is the best means to compensate them.

Question 8

FOUR BASIC PREMISES:

Answer 8

1. black people and women, each as a group, have been wronged and so ought to be compensated.
2. the community as a whole ought to compensate black people and women
3. the best means of compensating black people and women involves infringing on the right of the white male to equal consideration

Question 9

RECTIFICATION:

Answer 9

According to Maphai, the primary aim of affirmative action and preferential hiring policies is black advancement, which, in turn, will yield overall positive consequences for the society as a whole.