That is an interesting article. And yet, by selecting people who have truly gone through hardships (if that is possible) we are in fact selecting for those people who are resilient. After all, the people truly crumbled and destroyed by their hardships are not applying to UC Berkeley. Now if there happens to be a gene that helps you be resilient, then it isn't any more fair to select for resilience than for race- but does fairness matter? I'd argue no. What matters is (imo) the best appearance of fairness. After all children, and adults too, have a dickens of a time telling you exactly what fair IS- but if they think they see it they are mollified. So whether Mr. McWhorter is correct, or whether he is not, hardly matters (to me)- if the perception is that the admission process is more fair, than, voila, it is.
Because fair is never really fair. Fair is just an idea that rests on the ocean waves of whatever unconscious premise (and prejudices) you bring to the table. We are creatures of premise and prejudice- and in a world where nothing can be known absolutely, I see no way to get away from that, since one does have to start somewhere. So....what's the big deal? |
