The running race and affirmative action
What differences are there between the case of the running race, on the one hand, and the case of affirmative action, on the other? Do these differences undermine Himma’s argument? How might the significance of the differences be evaluated?
These differences do not necessarily undermine Himma’s argument – rather they demonstrate why affirmative action may be necessary in some cases: because it allows for social justice where it otherwise would not exist due to centuries of discrimination against marginalized groups. However, this does not mean that all forms of affirmative action should remain unchallenged; there have been numerous instances where such policies have had unintended negative consequences – particularly when those who benefit from them are unable to compete without special considerations being made for their background. This means that careful consideration must be given when evaluating whether a particular policy is fair and justifiable before implementing it.
Ultimately then, while Himma’s argument provides an important reminder that societies should strive towards equal opportunities regardless of group backgrounds/identities, we must also recognize that sometimes unfairness has already been embedded in existing systems and therefore might require more targeted interventions than simply allowing everyone equal access — at least until equality has been achieved across all sectors through greater educational reform or economic policies designed specifically to help those suffering from past injustice over time.