This morning at about 8:30 (18.2.02) heard a disturbing report, with no comment as to it's nature, on radio 4.
Apparently there's a group of 'distinguished' scientists who are pushing for funding for mmore research into genes that 'cause' anti-social behaviour and IQ. Unbelievably this calm, r4 news item didn't balk to include scientists talking about African's having 'naturally' lower IQs and tendencies towards violence.
Good GOD! are we living in the victorian era again? Or the Nazi/McArthy period? Or in some new wellsian nightmare - I can't decide. Love if someone had a recording of this mornings news items - have unsuccessfuly searched the r4 webiste.
Apparently the point of this research is to find 'treatment' fo anti-social behaviour and to help raise IQ levels. Seeing as we cannot understand the basics of genetics with any confidence yet it seems unbelievable that some 'serious' scientists would start making such wild claims. Low IQ and violent tendencies amongst African Americans has long been shown to be the product of racism, poverty and poor education, and nothing to do with natural inclinations. It reminded me far too much of the excuses used by the British in their suppresions in India and the 1950s sterilisation program amongst poor blacks in the South.
What possible benefit can there be even if they do find 'sociopathic' genes? What if these same genes are the ones that allow genius to flair, or appreciation of music or other abilities - most theories about the brain suggest that apart from basic funtions like motor, organ regulation and the general structure for language and memory, most mental function is from a combination of nurture, diet and environment. How can we breed out something which is only influnced by genetic programming.
One of the scientists called this 'new science' Genetic Behaviourism - that there are genes which govern our predisposition to certain patterns of behaviour. I wonder what gene made him turn into a Nazi?
Must say that article unsettled me greatly - did anyone else catch it?
Apparently there's a group of 'distinguished' scientists who are pushing for funding for mmore research into genes that 'cause' anti-social behaviour and IQ. Unbelievably this calm, r4 news item didn't balk to include scientists talking about African's having 'naturally' lower IQs and tendencies towards violence.
Good GOD! are we living in the victorian era again? Or the Nazi/McArthy period? Or in some new wellsian nightmare - I can't decide. Love if someone had a recording of this mornings news items - have unsuccessfuly searched the r4 webiste.
Apparently the point of this research is to find 'treatment' fo anti-social behaviour and to help raise IQ levels. Seeing as we cannot understand the basics of genetics with any confidence yet it seems unbelievable that some 'serious' scientists would start making such wild claims. Low IQ and violent tendencies amongst African Americans has long been shown to be the product of racism, poverty and poor education, and nothing to do with natural inclinations. It reminded me far too much of the excuses used by the British in their suppresions in India and the 1950s sterilisation program amongst poor blacks in the South.
What possible benefit can there be even if they do find 'sociopathic' genes? What if these same genes are the ones that allow genius to flair, or appreciation of music or other abilities - most theories about the brain suggest that apart from basic funtions like motor, organ regulation and the general structure for language and memory, most mental function is from a combination of nurture, diet and environment. How can we breed out something which is only influnced by genetic programming.
One of the scientists called this 'new science' Genetic Behaviourism - that there are genes which govern our predisposition to certain patterns of behaviour. I wonder what gene made him turn into a Nazi?
Must say that article unsettled me greatly - did anyone else catch it?