So what is your definition of "race"? What is the consensus of evolutionists on what defines race?
Why is that term accepted to describe races of animals? Why do some scientists deny the existence of race? What explains the persistence of phenotypical traits within populations around the world, such as skin color and other characteristics? Why are some "races" susceptible more than others to certain diseases or physiological problems? Why is the human species studied
differently than animals in terms of evolution and genetics?
"The Law of Serendipity: Lady Luck favours those who try" ... 😉🙂
From the foreword of "A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)", a book by Barbara Oakley, a professor of engineering at Oakland University, that you might have some interest in. Highly recommended, wish I'd read it 40 years ago:
But, in other news, I hope you'll be publishing your "Activists Who Compare Humans To Sex-Changing Fish Don’t Go Far Enough" here later on, particularly since I'm lifetime-banned over at RLS 😉🙂:
But since I'm not able to comment over there, I think a big part of the problem is that many people don't realize that the sex binary is NOT exhaustive, that there are many individuals of all anisogamous species, including the human one, who are NEITHER male NOR female, who are sexLESS. That some individuals aren't included in the binary doesn't obviate or nullify it. "up" and "down" -- at least as a pair of directions -- is also a binary, but there are also other directions like "left" and "right".
But you may, or may not, be amused to note that Jerry Coyne has more or less conceded the point, though I think he's also talking out of both sides of his mouth:
JC: "Those 1/6000 individuals are intersexes, neither male nor female."
And apparently even Colin Wright has at least conceded, in some recent tweet, that "sexless" is "theoretically possible" in the fracas over Ian Copeland:
Eva Kurilova: "With great patience, Wright answered that an individual could theoretically be sexless, but that doesn’t mean sex itself is no longer binary."
Seems rational that parents/role models play a part. So do gangs, social media, politics.
I don't think any of those will change. Science denial, addictive algorithms, and religious education are strong forces with many advocates. I predict further lowering. We need social zombies!
It would be interesting to know which, how, or if, students are encouraged to take more or less rigorous subjects while in school. There seems an inference that can be made that this lack of rigorous classes is coming from student choices, but may indeed be coming from outside pressures, including poverty, and malnutrition, along with class size, and number of classes offered. I'd like to see more on this aspect. Otherwise, I don't see what the solution is.
Exactly this, Joy - and "student choices" and aspirations may both be strongly shaped by parents. Marginalized parents who value education and dare to dream for their kids are surely an important mediating variable.
Those are very good points. Based on my experience, I think all of the factors that you listed play into the decisions. It is, indeed, a complex issue. Interestingly, this semester I'm teaching a class for education students who want to teach science in grade school and middle school. Little by little, I'm hoping to influence the way they view education and their responsibilities to student success. Wish me luck.
Maybe someone should do a deep dive into what the Common Bore (yes....bore/boring) curriculum and the standardized testing craze have done to skew education K-12. Almost every state adopted the CC and when parents complained, the name was changed but the standards remained the same. Same with the NGSS that followed. Public school is now just test prep central (ask me how I know!) with NO critical thinking allowed due to these ridiculous mandates.....even in the higher level classes.
How kind of you! Thank you. Life is just so busy… Besides these couple of essays that were just published by Minding the Campus, and Don't Divide Us, there is one coming out on Reality's Last Stand. I enjoy the writing because the background research teaches me a lot about the world at large, other people's opinions, and myself… It's just hard to squeeze it into my schedule! Thanks again…
I know of it, I listened to a podcast interview with the author, but I haven't read the book. I will put it on my Audible list, and listen to it as soon as I'm finished with my current book. Thank you very much for the recommendation!
So what is your definition of "race"? What is the consensus of evolutionists on what defines race?
Why is that term accepted to describe races of animals? Why do some scientists deny the existence of race? What explains the persistence of phenotypical traits within populations around the world, such as skin color and other characteristics? Why are some "races" susceptible more than others to certain diseases or physiological problems? Why is the human species studied
differently than animals in terms of evolution and genetics?
All great questions. Actually, I’m writing an article about that now. Thank you for your comments. Sincerely, Frederick
Please send me a copy of your article when it is finished. Thank you....LS
Will do.
"The Law of Serendipity: Lady Luck favours those who try" ... 😉🙂
From the foreword of "A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)", a book by Barbara Oakley, a professor of engineering at Oakland University, that you might have some interest in. Highly recommended, wish I'd read it 40 years ago:
https://www.amazon.ca/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra-ebook/dp/B00G3L19ZU
But, in other news, I hope you'll be publishing your "Activists Who Compare Humans To Sex-Changing Fish Don’t Go Far Enough" here later on, particularly since I'm lifetime-banned over at RLS 😉🙂:
https://www.realityslaststand.com/p/activists-who-compare-humans-to-sex
But since I'm not able to comment over there, I think a big part of the problem is that many people don't realize that the sex binary is NOT exhaustive, that there are many individuals of all anisogamous species, including the human one, who are NEITHER male NOR female, who are sexLESS. That some individuals aren't included in the binary doesn't obviate or nullify it. "up" and "down" -- at least as a pair of directions -- is also a binary, but there are also other directions like "left" and "right".
But you may, or may not, be amused to note that Jerry Coyne has more or less conceded the point, though I think he's also talking out of both sides of his mouth:
JC: "Those 1/6000 individuals are intersexes, neither male nor female."
https://whyevolutionistrue.com/2023/06/04/sf-chronicle-sex-and-gender-are-not-binaries/#comment-2048737
And apparently even Colin Wright has at least conceded, in some recent tweet, that "sexless" is "theoretically possible" in the fracas over Ian Copeland:
Eva Kurilova: "With great patience, Wright answered that an individual could theoretically be sexless, but that doesn’t mean sex itself is no longer binary."
https://www.thedistancemag.com/p/for-the-last-time-humans-are-not
You may wish to follow-up with both ... 😉🙂
Seems rational that parents/role models play a part. So do gangs, social media, politics.
I don't think any of those will change. Science denial, addictive algorithms, and religious education are strong forces with many advocates. I predict further lowering. We need social zombies!
I certainly understand your perspective… I am fighting hard to stay optimistic and do my best as a teacher… Thanks for the comment!
It would be interesting to know which, how, or if, students are encouraged to take more or less rigorous subjects while in school. There seems an inference that can be made that this lack of rigorous classes is coming from student choices, but may indeed be coming from outside pressures, including poverty, and malnutrition, along with class size, and number of classes offered. I'd like to see more on this aspect. Otherwise, I don't see what the solution is.
Exactly this, Joy - and "student choices" and aspirations may both be strongly shaped by parents. Marginalized parents who value education and dare to dream for their kids are surely an important mediating variable.
Well said!
Those are very good points. Based on my experience, I think all of the factors that you listed play into the decisions. It is, indeed, a complex issue. Interestingly, this semester I'm teaching a class for education students who want to teach science in grade school and middle school. Little by little, I'm hoping to influence the way they view education and their responsibilities to student success. Wish me luck.
Maybe someone should do a deep dive into what the Common Bore (yes....bore/boring) curriculum and the standardized testing craze have done to skew education K-12. Almost every state adopted the CC and when parents complained, the name was changed but the standards remained the same. Same with the NGSS that followed. Public school is now just test prep central (ask me how I know!) with NO critical thinking allowed due to these ridiculous mandates.....even in the higher level classes.
so glad you're posting again! I've missed your content.
How kind of you! Thank you. Life is just so busy… Besides these couple of essays that were just published by Minding the Campus, and Don't Divide Us, there is one coming out on Reality's Last Stand. I enjoy the writing because the background research teaches me a lot about the world at large, other people's opinions, and myself… It's just hard to squeeze it into my schedule! Thanks again…
I just saw the RLS one! Excellent.
Thanks!
Excellent writing - Thanks
BTW - Have you read David Bernstein’s Classified:The Untold Story of Racial Classification in American? (Post Hill Press 2022)
It is a very interesting & useful explication of this topic of ‘race’.
I know of it, I listened to a podcast interview with the author, but I haven't read the book. I will put it on my Audible list, and listen to it as soon as I'm finished with my current book. Thank you very much for the recommendation!