Innate Superiority: An Inferior Idea (Are certain races and cultures innately superior?)

National Review ^ | 02/12/2010 | Thomas Sowell

[gibtx2]

species are superior to certain things... fish for swmming... cats for doing nothing ... so why not..

[WOBBLY BOB]

If it’s not Scottish, it’s crap!

[rockinqsranch]

Ping Dr. Sowell article.

[US Navy Vet]

Some cultures are definatley superior “Races” are not. All Human Beings are made in G*D’s image and are thus devinely loved.

[reaganaut1]

This is a rare bogus column by Sowell. The issue is not some generalized “inferiority” — how does one assign relative weights to looks, athletic ability, musical ability, scientific contributions? The question is whether there are racial differences in the verbal and mathematical intellectual abilities that schools (should) focus on. The evidence from IQ tests, confirmed by achievement tests like those of NCLB and aptitude tests like the SAT, is that there *is* a 1-SD deviation between whites and blacks. That makes the NCLB goal of eliminating the “achievement gap” impossible if it is true.

[Riodacat]

The dumbing of the average American, in the past 50 years, validates the article.

[Oberon]

species are superior to certain things... fish for swmming... cats for doing nothing ... so why not..

Well, for one thing, last time I checked all human beings were the same species.

I'm just sayin'...

[rockinqsranch]

I should have read it first. It’s a previous posting. Disregard jaz.

[dennisw]

Brains vary just the same as physiques, hair coloring and athletic abilities do. Kenyans seem to be born to dominate marathons. Genetics are a large factor in this. Genetics also have a large influence on IQ. It’s ridiculous to chalk it all up to what a man does and experiences after he is born. Who are your ancestors? This has great bearing on the parameters you can develop within during yr life

[Riodacat]

All Human Beings are made in G*D’s image and are thus devinely loved

LOL. good one, I assume that would include Haitians..

[MrB]

That’s the basis of the dichotomy of worldviews.

If you’re of “evolutionary” thought, you must logically conclude that some humans are further evolved than others and can make better decisions for others than they can for themselves.

If you’re of “created and fallen” thought, you know that no individual has sufficient moral or intellectual superiority over others to make their decisions for them.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the ping, RQSR. This is a different title for part IV of the recent series.

[Grunthor]

“Innate Superiority: An Inferior Idea (Are certain races and cultures innately superior?”

Nope. Some are better at some things, others are better at other things.

Generally.

[STONEWALLS]

...the Anglo-European/Judeo-Christian culture in this country has been the most successful culture globally since World War Two....people risk their lives to try and participate in it’s riches....if people want to call that superior than I guess it is.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Is any one race superior overall? No.

Do some races excel others in specific areas? Yes, as should be obvious to anybody who pays attention to things like “Nobel Prizes in science fields” and “the Olympics” could tell you.

[allmendream]

There is also a 1-SD deviation between whites and, as a group, Jewish people and Asians. Do you think this “achievement gap” is similarly impossible to bridge?

Do you think this “achievement gap” is based upon innate genetic factors, or do your surmise that the Jewish and Asian cultures emphasis on scholarship (and American Black cultures de-emphasis on the same) might be a contributing factor?

[ilovesarah2012]

I think liberals are a different species.

[allmendream]

A rather incorrect view of evolutionary thought. There is no “more evolved” or “less evolved”; all humans are equally as evolved.

Some human populations are better adapted to some environments and some populations are better adapted to other environments.

[SeekAndFind]

Do some races excel others in specific areas? Yes, as should be obvious to anybody who pays attention to things like “Nobel Prizes in science fields” and “the Olympics” could tell you.

I believe it is not because of the "race' itself but the CULTURE imbined within the race.

By CULTURE, I mean -- worldview, belief system, concept of values and right and wrong.

There are some cultures adopted by people that PREVENT them from progressing, there are cultures on the other hand, which when adopted, make for prosperity.

Race is immutable ( with Michael Jackson as an exception :) ), but culture is NOT.