The genetics of politics (2012)

http://www.economist.com/node/21564191

by Tideflat • 12 years ago

14 6 12 years ago

monochr3• 12 years ago

"Now, however, the pendulum is swinging back."

Yes, "now". It's not like books such as the the bell curve were published during the whole period from 1940 to today.

The problem is that when you go back and read those books they are sexist, racist, misogynistic, paternalistic and borderline fascist. So every decade or so you need to pretend academia has unfairly tarred modern research into these topic with the gilt by association from the past.

The unfortunate fact that they just reproduce the least disgusting "findings" of the past with the same methods is just glossed over.

Reading the Bell Curve today you already see all of the above inside it only after 20 years. But I'm sure this time it will be different.

"In 2010 a study published by Dr Fowler and his colleagues implicated a gene known as DRD4 in the development of political affiliation."

Yes, totally different.

8957a7e862• 12 years ago

Which specific claims from The Bell Curve do you disagree with? The most contentious point, regarding racial differences in IQ, has been confirmed many times.

monochr3• 12 years ago

It is a 1000+ page book. Many have said more than should have been said about it. My problem with it starts from the premise that IQ measures anything other than the ability to think like the middle class designers of the tests want you to think.

The genetics of politics (2012)

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