The Definition of Racism

Datos Bibliográficos

ID23166065
AutoresW Thomas Schmid (0000-0003-4671-6576, autor de correspondencia)
Año1996
Volumen13
Número1
Páginas31-40
Fecha de publicación1996-04-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Applied Philosophy (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0264-3758 • E-ISSN: 1468-5930
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-5930.1996.tb00147.x
OpenAlexW2051808269
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas9

This essay considers definitions of racism which emphasise its behavioural, motivational, and cognitive features. The behavioural definition (‘the failure to give equal consideration, based on the fact of race alone’) is rejected, primarily due to its inability to distinguish between ‘true’and ‘ordinary’racism. It is the former which is morally most objectionable — and which identifies the essence of the racist attitude and belief. The central part of the essay argues in favour of the motivational approach to the definition (‘the infliction of unequal consideration, motivated by the desire to dominate, based on race alone’) and clarifies the way in which racism, thus understood, conflicts with the principle of human equality. Finally, the cognitivist definition (‘unequal consideration, out of a belief in the inferiority of another race’) is also rejected, despite its intuitive appeal. The overall discussion has important implications for moral philosophy. It is shown both that the principle of human equality does not strictly imply equal consideration, and that one may violate the principle of equal perception, yet not deny the principle which, from the perspective of this argument, is the more fundamental element in the principle of human equality, the principle of equal human worth.

Appeal · Argument (complex analysis) · Element (criminal law) · Epistemology · Perception · Perspective (graphical) · Political science · Race (biology) · Racism · Sociology · Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies · Gender Studies · Law · Mathematics · Philosophy · Political Philosophy and Ethics · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social Psychology