Compensation

Abstract

This chapter looks at so-called backward-looking justifications for affirmative action, e.g., most notably arguments that justify affirmative action as a way of providing quasi-compensation for descendants of victims of past injustices. The chapter is quite critical of this justification. One reason for this derives from Parfit’s important non-identity problem, while another reason for this skepticism derives from the difficulties of providing an attractive account of what a quasi-compensation-relevant relation of descent consists of. With these two problems in mind the chapter also scrutinizes the view that innocent beneficiaries of historic injustice have special duties to bear the costs of affirmative action. In closing, the chapter argues that the expounded criticisms of compensation-based justifications of affirmative action are compatible with the view that there exist duties (e.g., on the part of states) to apologize for past injustices.