Sep 9, 2021 08:48 AM
(This post was last modified: Sep 9, 2021 06:53 PM by C C.)
Richard Lewontin leaves a legacy of fighting racism in science
https://www.wired.com/story/richard-lewo...n-science/
EXCERPT: . . . But because he was so open about his politics, says Graves, Lewontin was not only a uniquely political scientist but also a uniquely honest one. “The simple fact of the matter is that political positions have always been part of science,” Graves says. “People who say they aren’t are just lying.” (MORE - details)
- - - satire corner - - -
Cynical Sindee: Especially in the human sciences.
While I surely agree for the most part with Lewontin's conclusions, it's basically for the same underlying reason that this writer did and everyone else who gave him a pat on the back about the work over the years. Which eventually led to "race" being rendered biologically meaningless.
Because it's feel-good stuff that one would experience a sense of immorality even going against. Not necessarily the outright elimination of race, but at least demoting it in terms of the significance it once had.
Which is to say, I have little confidence that it was arrived at by impartial scientific activity and interpretation. Lewontin was clearly motivated by his pre-existing opinions, which probably affected his navigation through the waters of research as well. [Though this kind of blasphemy in general directed at a temple of science would usually be attracting the footfalls of reproachful priests in the distance.]
However, that itself does not render the destination incorrect. A package delivery person could still reach the right address after robbing two liquor stores and a convenience pharmacy along the way.
In the same spirit of "doing what's right", scientists opposing A. W. F. Edwards' challenge below may still tinker with standards and the semantics of "race" so as to ensure it stays slain.
Lewontin's Fallacy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Gene...7s_Fallacy
Bottom line: Face it, you overly idealistic worshipers. Some areas of science are determined by the shifting weather of society, not neutral practices and being ethically dis-interested in the outcome of studies and investigations, no matter where they fall. And if occasional research does elude "proper" moral interventions and falls the wrong way in terms of results, a crusading clean-up team merely has to ensure those either get discredited or gradually tumble over a cliff into obscurity.
https://www.wired.com/story/richard-lewo...n-science/
EXCERPT: . . . But because he was so open about his politics, says Graves, Lewontin was not only a uniquely political scientist but also a uniquely honest one. “The simple fact of the matter is that political positions have always been part of science,” Graves says. “People who say they aren’t are just lying.” (MORE - details)
- - - satire corner - - -
Cynical Sindee: Especially in the human sciences.
While I surely agree for the most part with Lewontin's conclusions, it's basically for the same underlying reason that this writer did and everyone else who gave him a pat on the back about the work over the years. Which eventually led to "race" being rendered biologically meaningless.
Because it's feel-good stuff that one would experience a sense of immorality even going against. Not necessarily the outright elimination of race, but at least demoting it in terms of the significance it once had.
Which is to say, I have little confidence that it was arrived at by impartial scientific activity and interpretation. Lewontin was clearly motivated by his pre-existing opinions, which probably affected his navigation through the waters of research as well. [Though this kind of blasphemy in general directed at a temple of science would usually be attracting the footfalls of reproachful priests in the distance.]
However, that itself does not render the destination incorrect. A package delivery person could still reach the right address after robbing two liquor stores and a convenience pharmacy along the way.
In the same spirit of "doing what's right", scientists opposing A. W. F. Edwards' challenge below may still tinker with standards and the semantics of "race" so as to ensure it stays slain.
Lewontin's Fallacy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Gene...7s_Fallacy
Bottom line: Face it, you overly idealistic worshipers. Some areas of science are determined by the shifting weather of society, not neutral practices and being ethically dis-interested in the outcome of studies and investigations, no matter where they fall. And if occasional research does elude "proper" moral interventions and falls the wrong way in terms of results, a crusading clean-up team merely has to ensure those either get discredited or gradually tumble over a cliff into obscurity.