Justice Through Diversity?

A Philosophical and Theological Debate

By: Michael J. Sweeney

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eText | 30 August 2016 | Edition Number 1

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Arguably the most transformative force in contemporary society is the commitment to justice through diversity. A prime example is the change justice through diversity has wrought on who enters, teaches and administers the university. It has changed the content of what is taught and the mission statements that define the purpose of higher education. What is rarely defined, however, is justice and how it is related to diversity. If justice is equality, are all differences equal? Are all differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, religion and culture equal? Should such differences be weighted differently and thus hierarchically? On what basis are those differences to be weighted and ranked to ensure equality? Justice Through Diversity brings together a Who's Who of contemporary scholars to explore these questions and others in an attempt to understand one of the central commitments in the modern world.

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This collection responds to the current emphasis on diversity in colleges and universities, in which diversity is often equated with justice. The essays argue that institutions have neither adequately defined justice and diversity nor clearly examined the relationship between the two notions. The contributors look at this issue from both philosophical and theological perspectives (the latter limited to the Abrahamic religions), noting that historically both the concepts and their relationship are contested. One articulated concern is that to proceed with policies based on increasing diversity, institutions must have a clearer understanding of diversity and justice in order to develop effective programs. Another concern is that though higher education supports an open exchange of ideas, there has been a failure to provide open debate on issues of diversity. In addition to essays on theory, the collection includes essays that address specific issues—e.g., gender, nationality, sexual orientation, class, and religion. Critical to the discussion is whether all diversities are equal. Should they all be treated in the same way, or should special allowances be made to offset disadvantages associated with particular diversities. What is just?

Summing Up: Recommended. All readers.