Ashutosh responds to James Watson’s provocative comments about race and intelligence.
I don’t doubt that genetics is responsible in part for people’s intellectual abilities. It’s not too hard to believe in this if you believe in evolution. The problem is, first of all, intelligence is of various kinds, and it’s well known that IQ tests only test a person’s ability to do one thing- take IQ tests. But more importantly, there are many varied environmental factors responsible for intelligence that can far overwhelm genetics. Take an average kid of any race and immerse him in an intellectually stimulating and nurturing environment, and he will most likely turn out pretty smart, if not Einstein.
Comments
1 comment. Leave your comment »
Galileo Smith
Oct 28th, 2007 at 11:43 am | #
Do I write in a blog that no one every reads or do I write in a blog that is so much traffic that my comments get swept away in fifteen minutes? Ahh hell, here it goes…
I think race/intelligence is a fascinating subject. There’s all kinds of things going on within it; history, genetics, political correctness, and a few more ingredients thrown in for good measure. Personally I think it is highly likely that there is a difference in intelligence when comparing races. I’m not sure that this will or even could be completely accepted no matter what evidence is unveiled. It’s just too politically incorrect. There’s just too much history behind the mess. The Bell Curve is often attacked and criticized because the authors did not follow proper scientific protocol, or the authors were not “experts” in some particular field. True or not, I see such criticisms are just splitting hairs. Unless research samples and figures are made-up from fiction, I look at such things as evidence, perhaps not conclusive, but evidence. The stuff is just not that complicated. Most of the data I can figure out on my own. In fact, I don’t think the question is so much; “Is there really any significant evidence?”, but; “Is the evidence conclusive?” It’s not far from it, in my opinion.
Beyond the initial controversy, a few other good questions need to be asked. Perhaps the best one is; Do we really want to delve into the subject to its conclusion? There’s a lot of people, mostly blacks, but some whites, who find their self-identity in their race. For those blacks it could mean a loss of self-esteem. For those whites it could mean a renewed air of racial superiority. As a race-conscious people, we would have to quickly figure out a new way to view both ourselves and others. On the other hand, it just could be that society would be better off not knowing everything there is to know about itself.