Is Conceptual Inflation a Problem for a Theory of Institutional Racism?

2023/12/15 by César Cabezas · 1 voice · 2 citations
Social Sciences · #Critical Realism in Sociology #Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies #Political Philosophy and Ethics

paper · doi:10.1086/727273

openalex publication_date 2023/12/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

I address the objection that the concept of racism has become overly inflated. Critics of the conceptual inflation of “racism” argue that theories of institutional racism engage in untoward conceptual inflation insofar as they undermine our moral understanding of racial phenomena, hinder our ability to explain the causes of racial inequality, and even undercut struggles for racial justice. I develop an original account of institutional racism and show that it is immune to all three versions of the conceptual inflation challenge.

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Discussions

• Is Conceptual Inflation a problem for a Theory of Institutional Racism? César Cabezas argues that it is not. doi.org/10.1086/727273 #philsky #PolTheory #legalphil #moralphil [bsky, 2 points, 0 comments]

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