Don’t silence the scientists. Por Sue Blackmore.
In lots of ways the universe is absolutely not how we would like it to be. It takes science, and its rigorous (if imperfect) methods of accepting actual evidence, to overcome our desires for it to be otherwise.
Race and IQ is just one such issue. Life would be easier, society would be fairer, racism would be easier to fight against, if there were no differences. But thousands of studies (including twin studies, adoption studies and much more) have shown differences between races in all sorts of abilities. We don’t know exactly why, we don’t know precisely how dependent these differences are on testing methods, environment, and countless other variables, but in general James Watson was only telling the truth based on lots of evidence.
(…)
I have never wanted to get into this intellectual minefield. I have seen too many good scientists pilloried and abused because they dared to talk about it. I have seen others twist and squirm and make ridiculous pronouncements to avoid even seeming to admit that there might be any racial differences in any ability. I resignedly dread the comments I know will follow this blog. But this small event has tipped me over the edge. If James Watson is to be silenced for talking about it then his fellow scientists ought to stand up and object. For what other topics might we find our lectures cancelled over next?
So I’m objecting. Let people talk freely about this difficult issue if they want to. It matters to us all.
(via Blasfémias)
Pedro Sette-Câmara
André Azevedo Alves
Carlos Guimarães Pinto
Helder Ferreira
Bruno Garschagen
João Luís Pinto
LA
Bruno Alves
Miguel Botelho Moniz
ruicarmo
Miguel Noronha
Elizabete Dias
António Costa Amaral (AA)
LT
Rui Oliveira
BZ
dos ∫antos
André Abrantes Amaral
planca12
rui a.
Rodrigo Adão da Fonseca
Adolfo Mesquita Nunes
Michael Seufert
Luciano
Carlos M. Fernandes
Maria João Marques
jtcb
Nuno Branco
elisabetejoaquim
filipeabrantes
Tomás Belchior
Bruno Gonçalves
Ricardo G. Francisco
Tiago Loureiro
Ricardo Campelo de Magalhães
Filipe Faria
Ricardo Arroja
