Re: AUT: critiquing biological determinism/ideology of difference

[topp8564@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Isn't this stuff speculation piled on top of speculation? What do IQ tests
measure? What to intelligence composition measures measure? What do organic
differences between male and female brains mean? How do these differences
interact with our viciously sexist society? What is caused by nature and
...yawn... Another point:  studies of intelligence  which follow one individual
over a number of years show that having nice friends and a fulfilling life has
more impact on an individual's IQ scores than do gender difference on different
individuals' IQ scores. I think that really puts the nail on the coffin, as far
as I am concerned. Any differences that there are must be quite subtle.

Yet another point: what difference does this make for a revolutionist anyway?
Is anyone planning to have a society so carefully weighted that the residual
differences between male and female brains still matter - after we deal with,
you know, the obviously irrational aspects of sexism? Is there even any
meaningful political sense to a question of brain morphology at this stage?
Isn't it like wondering whether humans have sufficiently impressive brains to
make no one sad after the year 2480 or solve the transformation problem?


Thiago Oppermann, having horrible flashbacks to first year psychology tutorials


On 21/7/2002 9:07 PM, "Ilan Shalif" <gshalif@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hi People.
> It does not need big scientist to observe that male and female
> have brains, and that these brains differ from each other.
>
> It does not need a great scientist to observe many of the differences
> between the brains of the two genders.
>
> It is obvious that a society built by males in power will
> be around the abilities men are better in them.
>
> In addition, the usual measures of intelligence and achievements
> are according to these more relevant for males.
> (Meaning they measure "male intelligence" - not any neutral or common
> intelligence.)
>
> In a study I did among kids of above average intelligence
> using the common "intelligence test", the result show the same:
> At every level of the intelligence scale, there were twice boys than girls...
>
> A more subtle analyzes showed that the structure of the "intelligence"
> of boys and girls of the same level differ significantly.
>
> I did not submitted the results to publication in order that they will not
> be misused by the male chauvinists.
>
> One of the main biochemical processes responsible for this
> difference was pointed at in a life long study of the subject
> of the differences between the genders by the female scientist
> Macoby.
>
>
> Michael Handelman wrote:
>
>> Two recent incidents have sparked my curiosity, in
>> critiquing biological determinism and the
>> postmodernist ideology of "difference":
>
> The two concepts "determinism" and "biological determinism"
> can be easily abused by reactionaries, but can also - because of
> that abuse, be regarded in a non materialistic and hysterical  way
> by people who object to the abuses.
> Ilan
>
>
>
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