Affirmative action talk of the town

Professor David Benatar is an acclaimed speaker and teacher in his own right, but the topic of his inaugural lecture on 11 April - Justice, Diversity and Affirmative Action - may also explain why the venue was crammed to capacity and people had to be turned away.

It goes without saying that the topic is a controversial one, Benatar admitted, but while not wishing to offend, it is a subject that has been insufficiently and inadequately debated he said. "It's an issue that calls out for questioning, that calls out for rational discussion."

In his lecture, Benatar highlighted the flaws in the arguments for affirmative action.

The problem, Benatar said, is using race as the proxy for disadvantage, as it amounts to racial profiling.

"It is a messy, messy terrain, full of absurdities."