1. Racism, Sexism and Affirmative Action: Some Key Points

2. Causes of discrimination: prejudice (biased judgment), stereotyping, socialization, unequal power relations, unjust laws and unfair public policies

3. Harmful effects of discrimination on the victims: The victims are denied their basic rights and/or access to opportunities. As a result, many of them are disadvantaged and/or trapped at the bottom of society.

4. Harmful effects of discrimination on society: social conflicts and other problems resulting from racial inequality and sexual inequality

5. Solutions to the problem: equal opportunity policy, affirmative action, education, publicity campaigns, legal and social reforms, and other government efforts to help the disadvantaged and victims of discrimination

6. Moral basis of (justifications for) equal opportunity policy:
the principle of non-discrimination
the principle of formal equality of opportunity

7. Moral basis of (justifications for) affirmative action:
the principle of compensatory justice
the principle of fair equality of opportunity

8. Note that affirmative action is not the only way to achieve compensatory justice and fair equality of opportunity. And it may not be the best approach.

9. The compensatory justice argument:
[P1] Victims of discrimination are entitled to compensation.
[P2] Preferential treatment is a form of compensation.
[C] Victims of discrimination are entitled to preferential treatment.

10. The reverse discrimination argument:
[P1] Differential treatment on irrelevant grounds is morally unacceptable.
[P2] Preferential affirmative action involves differential treatment on irrelevant grounds.
[C] Preferential affirmative action is morally unacceptable.