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Profiles, Probabilities and Stereotypes Frederick Schauer

Profiles, Probabilities and Stereotypes By Frederick Schauer

Profiles, Probabilities and Stereotypes by Frederick Schauer


$88.99
Condition - Very Good
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Summary

Can we justly generalize about members of a group on the basis of statistical tendencies of that group? Shauer argues that there is good profiling and bad profiling. If we can effectively determine which is which, we stand to gain, not lose, a measure of justice.

Profiles, Probabilities and Stereotypes Summary

Profiles, Probabilities and Stereotypes by Frederick Schauer

This work employs a lively approach to the timely question of whether we can justly generalize about members of a group on the basis of statistical tendencies of that group. For instance, should a military academy exclude women because, on average, women are more sensitive to hazing than men? Should airlines force all pilots to retire at age sixty, even though most pilots at that age have excellent vision? Can all pit bulls be banned because of the aggressive characteristics of the breed? And, most controversially, should government and law enforcement use racial and ethnic profiling as a tool to fight crime and terrorism? Frederick Schauer strives to analyze and resolve these prickly questions. When the law "thinks like an actuary" - makes decisions about groups based on averages - the public benefit can be enormous. On the other hand, profiling and stereotyping may lead to injustice. And many stereotypes are self-filling, while others are simply spurious. How, then, can we decide which stereotypes are accurate, which are distortions, which can be applied fairly and which will result in unfair stigmatization? These decisions must rely not only on statistical and empirical accuracy, but also on morality. Even statistically sound generalizations may sometimes have to yield to the demands of justice. But broad judgements are not always or even usually immoral, and we should not always dismiss them because of an instinctive aversion to stereotypes. As Schauer argues, there is good profiling and bad profiling. If we can effectively determine which is which, we stand to gain, not lose, a measure of justice.

Additional information

GOR007568010
9780674011861
0674011864
Profiles, Probabilities and Stereotypes by Frederick Schauer
Used - Very Good
Hardback
Harvard University Press
2003-11-26
320
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

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