What is race (according to this perspective)?
* Racial classifications are based on physical differences * These physical differences are seen to represent underlying genetic differences. * Physical differences: skin color, eye shape, hair texture, body shape a) Race = physical/genetic differences
b) Race = character/behavioral differences
Assumptions: a) >>> causes >>> b)
* Biological determination
Where did this perspective come from?
* Must travel back in time, prior to the era of sociobiology
Roots:
16th Century
* Rare
* 1508
* William Dunbar (Scottish Poet) > “ The Dance of the Sevin Deidly Synnis” *
17th Century
* Groups
* Technical term > classification system (groups/a people/stock) *
18th Century
* Evaluation/Judgment
* Race > groups “ strange to the European eye”
* Race > the “ other” -> groups “ other than the European” *
19th Century
a) Biology/Genetics
* Socio-biology enters the picture
* Thinking scientifically about race
* Biological determinism
b) Hierarchy
* Natural Hierarchy of human races
c) Race Scientists
* Ex#1. Retzius & Cephalic Index
* Measure of Civilization
* Long Heads = more civilized
* Round heads = less civilized
* Ex#2. Morton & Cranial Capacity
* Measure of Civilization
* Ex#3. Galton & Eugenics
* “ Science of improving the stock”
1) Goal to prove so-called superior race through selective breeding * Breed people from “ genetically superior groups”
2) Discourage/prohibit breeding among genetically “ inferior groups” * Ex#4. Galton & IQ
Critical Review/Limitations:
1. Race classification schemes questionable
2. “ Races” more similar than different:
Ex#1.
“ Blacks” and “ Whites” have more genes in common, than genes thatdistinguish the two so-called “ Races”.
Ex#2.
More genetic/biological variability within the “ White” race and within the“ Black” race than between “ Whites” and “ Blacks”
3. “ Racial” traits & behaviors Questionable
No contemporary, convincing scientific evidence
4. IQ test biased
* Otherness = strangeness
* Carolus Linnaeus
* Broca
* Racial determinist
Swedish
Botanist Father of
Zoologist Taxonomy
Physician
Racial GroupCharacteristics/Behaviors
Europeans= light, lively, inventive, muscular swift, clever America Indians= choleric [irritable], combative, persevering Asiatics= yellow, melancholic, inflexible, severe
Africans= phlegmatic, indulgent, crafty, negligent, slow
It was assumed that:
1) The groupings were accurate/true
2) The behaviors/characters of those within particular group were accurate/true. 3) The evaluations/judgment were true
