Charles Brown writes: >> CB: You can rule out that there is some correlation between the genes >> for "white" skin color and some genetic component for superior brain >> power based on the _empirical_ evidence, not a priori. This question has >> been investigated for many decades, and we have the answer. Surely , >> you know this is no longer a question in the state of a priori, i.e. >> without any experiential evidence.
Do you mean correlation or causation? I agree with you on causation. Does anybody actually argue that there is causation between melanin production and brain power (other than Leonard Jeffries)? But correlation is a different question. Does anybody dispute the variation, on average, of IQ scores for different "racial" groups in the United States (after taking into consideration socio-economic and other factors)? The big question is what explains that correlation. To what extent can it be explained by racism, social behavior and/or genetics? Are you saying there is no dispute on the answer to that question? I think I am making a subtle point that may not be getting across. I think there is absolutely no causation between skin color and intelligence. I think there may be a variation in the genetic development of the brain of subgroups that developed in relative isolation. The fact that a subgroup may have also developed a variation in skin color is a coincidence and makes us more aware of the variation between the subgroups, but is irrelevant to whether there is a variation in the development of the brain. And I never use the words superior or inferior --- I do not believe the ability to do well on an IQ test tells us anything about the moral value of the person taking the test. David Shemano >> >> >>
