"In this book, Deborah Hellman develops a much-needed general theory of discrimination. She demonstrates that many familiar ideas about when discrimination is wrong - when it is motivated by prejudice, grounded in stereotypes, or simply departs from merit-based decision-making - won't adequately explain our widely shared intuitions." "Hellman argues that, in the end, distinguishing among people on the basis of traits is wrong when it demeans any of the people affected. She deftly explores the question of how we determine what is in fact demeaning." "Claims of wrongful discrimination are among the most common moral claims asserted in public and private life. Yet the roots of these claims are often left unanalyzed. When Is Discrimination Wrong? explores what it means to treat people as equals and thus takes up a central problem of democracy."--Jacket.

Introduction: the discrimination puzzle -- When is discrimination wrong? -- The basic idea -- Demeaning and wrongful discrimination -- Interpretation and disagreement -- Considering alternatives -- Introduction to part II -- Merit, entitlement, and desert -- Accuracy and irrationality -- Is it the thought that counts? -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index.