Re: AUT: critiquing biological determinism/ideology of difference

[Michael Handelman <mhandelman1@xxxxxxxxx>]

I agree with Thiago, unlike in chemistry, it is
impossible to isolate how much "nature" is to behvior
or how much environment affects behavior. Therefore,
it does seem quite rediculous to set up priori's
explaining certain types of behavior, because of
"human nature".

For example, Ilan noted that females tend to score
higher on "emotional intelligence", this could be
simply do to the promotion of the ideology that woman
are more "nurturing" than men. To jump to the
conclusion, that it's because of "nature" seems to be
quite faulty.

Isn't there also a problem, that there is so much
variations of behavior/intelligence within the gender
group, that comparisons between men and women cannot
be done, since there is no "ideal-type" of females and
males.

BTW, what was that thing Marx said, "Nothing human, is
alien to me"????

--- topp8564@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 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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>
>
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