Thursday, February 2, 2012

Ten examples of racially-based thinking

1. A subjective preference to live and interact with one's own population group (defined in terms of genetic relatedness).

2. A subjective preference to marry within one's own population group.

3. A conviction that members of one's own population group are morally obliged only to marry within the group.

4. A belief that population groups (defined in terms of genetic relatedness) exhibit statistically significant differences in terms of psychological and cognitive characteristics and abilities.

5. A belief that one's own population group exhibits a higher incidence and/or higher levels of subjectively desirable psychological or behavioral characteristics than some other groups.

6. A belief that one's own population group exhibits a higher incidence and/or higher levels of subjectively desirable psychological or behavioral characteristics than all other groups.

7. A belief that one's own population group exhibits higher levels of objectively quantifiable cognitive abilities than some other groups.

8. A belief that one's own population group exhibits higher levels of objectively quantifiable cognitive abilities than all other groups.

9. A belief that one's own population group is intrinsically superior to some other population groups.

10. A belief that one's own population group is intrinsically superior to all other population groups.

1 comment:

  1. People often think in terms of 'ethnic groups'. This concept can be interpreted as relating to genetic relatedness only, but it often encompasses culture also. Many people, when dealing with the issues raised in points 1, 2 and 3, would consider the cultural side of things as much more significant than the 'racial' side.

    The question of the truth of point 4 (and by extension of points 7 and 8) seems to me an entirely scientific question (or complex set of questions) needing to be refined and clarified but ultimately the sort of thing which can and should be settled by scientific research.

    The phrase 'intrinsically superior' (see points 9 and 10) is vague and metaphysical and in my opinion incoherent. Such claims are silly and unsustainable.

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