Strange that it need be said, but yes, diversity, equity, and inclusion are good things. I can understand some of the backlash against efforts perceived as too heavy handed, but let's not forget:
In diverse institutions and societies, more ideas and perspectives collaborate, compete, and cross-pollinate, to the advantage of all.
In equitable institutions and societies, people and ideas can thrive without unwarranted disadvantage and suppression, again to the advantage of all.
In inclusive institutions and societies, alternative perspectives and people with unusual backgrounds are welcomed, fostering even better diversity, with all the attendant advantages.
Since 2017, I've been involved in the creation of a Good Practices Guide for diversifying philosophy, originally under the leadership of Nicole Hassoun (other co-directors include Sherri Conklin, Bjoern Freter, and Elly Vintiadis). We began with two huge sessions at the Pacific APA (each with over 20 panelists) in 2018 and 2019, published a portion of the guide in Ethics in 2022 (Appendix J), and received feedback from literally hundreds of philosophers and all of the diversity-related APA committees, ultimately being endorsed by the APA Committee on Inclusiveness. Don't expect perfection: It's genuinely a corporate authorship, with many compromises and something for everyone to dislike. I'd be amazed if anyone thought we got the balance right on all issues and all dimensions of diversity.
Still, perhaps especially in this moment of retrenchment in the U.S., I hope that many people and organizations will find valuable suggestions in it.
Our guide appeared in print last week in APA Studies on Philosophy and the Black Experience (vol 24, no 2).
3 comments:
In view of progress which has been effected over the last thirty years or so, it seems to me that criticisms of DEI are misplaced. I suppose reversals can happen, when erratic, unpredictable leadership is selected? This appears to be what we have now. Turmoil and confusion rule. Not good evidence of leadership. A former Israeli prime minister was interviewed today on public radio. That person says Israel is guilty of war crimes and current conditions in Gaza illustrate this. He also said he likes the US president. He did not specifically say he agrees with the position(s) taken by the US on this matter.
Sometimes, things NOT said have greater impact. You bet. (Public radio is not
on the good list either)
May we consider the DOGE thing? Just for grins(?), if one inserts D, between the O and G in DOGE, one gets: DODGE. Hmmmm...seems consistent, doesn't it? Maybe, this is only my bias? I don't think so. The leadership folks are deceivers. Anyone not recognizing this by now is hopelessly lost. The spaghetti thing, see...
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