Lecture
CPP/LTP Colloquium "Discrimination without comparison"
- Date
- Thursday 23 April 2026
- Time
- Location
-
P.J. Veth
Nonnensteeg 1-3
2311 VJ Leiden - Room
- 0.06
The Centre of Political Philosophy and the Leiden University Centre Theoretical Philosophy are pleased to announce a lecture by Dr. Lennart Ackerman, AvH Research Fellow at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy. With commentary by Andrei Poama, Assistant Professor, Leiden University.
Abstract
On the standard definition of discrimination, someone is discriminated against when two conditions are satisfied: a comparative one – being treated worse than a comparable individual – and a causal one – being treated worse because of a protected characteristic such as race or gender. I argue that the comparative condition is unnecessary. On any reasonable interpretation, the standard definition of discrimination is nearly coextensive with a purely causal definition that involves no interpersonal comparison. Where the two concepts diverge, the remaining cases are rare and morally ambiguous. I further argue that the causal concept should replace the standard concept on pragmatic grounds: causal discrimination is easier to measure empirically, simpler in its application, and less burdensome for claimants in court.
About the Center for Political Philosophy (CPP) Colloquia Series
The CPP is a collaboration between the Institute for Philosophy and the Institute for Political Science at Leiden University. Attendance of the Colloquia is free and there is no need to register. See CPP for more information. For further questions please contact:
Dr. Thomas Fossen t.fossen@phil.leidenuniv.nl or
Dr. Jelena Belic j.belic@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
All are welcome!