Study Guide for Quiz 7
Essays by Gould, Stringer, and Wagner (Subject to changes)
Chris Stringer, "Africans Under the Skin." For anthropologist Chris Stringer, recent evidence about modern
human origins goes against the racist theories of people like Philip Rushton and of Murray and Hernnstein's
The Bell Curve. What arguments does Rushton put forth, and what is Stringer's main objection? What is the
argument of The Bell Curve, and what is Stringer's counterargument?
Stephen Jay Gould, Essays Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould is one of the best-known evolutionary
theorists of the past two decades. In addition to his books and articles on evolutionary theory, he has written
extensively on the history and social context of science. The essays assigned for this week survey some of his
criticisms of biological determinism.
"Women's Brains." In this essay, Gould shows how Paul Broca, one of the leading scientists of the
nineteenth century, allowed social prejudices to lead him into a flawed, but widely influential, analysis
proving the "inferiority" of women's intelligence. What were Broca's claims, and what was wrong with
them?
"Racism and Recapitulation." Recapitulation and neoteny were two opposite interpretations of human
evolution (and each was, in its own way, a misguided generalization based on a kernel of scientific
truth). Astoundingly, both were used to justify the same conclusions about the supposed superiority of
the "white race." What was the logic behind each of these theories, and how these opposite theories
bent to the same racist conclusions?
"The Criminal as Nature's Mistake, or the Ape in Some of Us." Gould documents the renowned and
highly influential theories of nineteenth century criminologist Cesare Lombroso, comparing them with
more recent attempts to link criminal behavior to the genes (a project that is, by the way, very much
alive despite the failure of the recently popular "XXY Chromosome" thesis). What were the doctrines of
Lombroso?
"Racist arguments and IQ." Moving to more recent "science," Gould offers a critique of some modern
theories of racial inequality. Summarize a couple of his main objections to the new theories of race
inequality:
"Science and Jewish Immigration." In this essay, Gould continues with the theme of how science
(including cutting-edge science by leading experts) sometimes reinforces prevailing social prejudices
(in this case, racism against Jews and certain other immigrants). How did the theories of leading
intelligence "experts" of the early twentieth century lead to a change in U. S. Immigration laws, and
what scientific shortcomings can be seen in those theories from today's perspective?
"Biological Potentiality vs. Biological Determinism." What are the main arguments given here against
genetic determinism, and what are some examples that Gould uses to illustrate them?
Wagner. Those who took First-Year Preceptorial in previous years probably read a good deal of "evolutionary
psychology" as well as this opposong essay. In the context of the final assignment, it discusses some of the
logical pitfalls and scientific problems involved in generalizations about “human nature.” You should aim to
follow the general arguments.