Business Ethics The Illusion of Reverse Discrimination

It sounds like such a good argument -- 'don't simply hire someone because he or she is a member of a minority group,' hire the most qualified person. Yes, disregard the compelling fact that the prospective applicant for a position is a member of a historically discriminated against minority group -- simply ask who is best. While such an argument sounds philosophically, emotionally, and occasionally, even ethically resonant in principle, the fact is that such arguments about reverse discrimination are specious and generate more heat than light.

What does 'best person for the job mean' really? Firstly and foremost, it must be noted that affirmative action programs and quota-based systems of job allotment are not analogous. Affirmative action suggests that individual's membership in historically discriminated against categories should be taken into consideration as one qualifying factor amongst many, not that an individual should be hired because of his or her membership in specific numerically desirable categories.

Hiring has always taken into account certain subjective matters, such as an individual's personality...

The interviewer's subjective as well as objective assessment of his or her capabilities is always a factor, as well as the bullet points on an individual's resume -- often many qualified 'best' candidates exist, else there would be no need to screen potential candidates, if everything could be done by the numbers, irrespective of subjective judgment of the human resource department.
Of course, one should not hire someone who is patently unqualified for a position based on quotas. For instance, in making decisions about college admissions, it would be absurd to admit someone with SATs that are far lower than the institution's average score. But, it would not be similarly absurd to take the cultural experiences that individual had experienced, in admitting a qualified candidate, just as one considers his or her passion for a particular area of the institution's academic specialties, or prowess in athletics?

Similarly, one should not promote someone merely because they are an African-American, regardless of his…