[lbo-talk] Sociobiology

Wojtek Sokolowski sokol at jhu.edu
Fri Jan 26 10:45:54 PST 2007


Andie:

Third, the ideological (setting aside the scientific) mistake in reactionary pop sociobiology is not biological. It is the anti-biological notion, inconsistent with biology, that if a trait has an explanation with a biological component that (a) that trait cannot be changed because it is rigidly manifested in all environments, and (b) is probably a good thing whose realization could be promoted.

[WS:] Ideologues (reactionary and otherwise) argue it both ways, depending on the circumstances. For example, they would argue that (a) non-whites (or women) have "naturally" lower IQ than whites or men, and therefore discrimination against them is justified and (b) that gay sexual orientation is a matter of choice rather than "natural", and therefore discrimination against them is justified. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Logical inconsistency will certainly not stop these trolls from spewing their bullshit. Outside a normative system that justifies an existing practice or institution the issue of adaptive functionality if of little value.

Wojtek



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