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210 Pages
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Few issues cause academics to disagree more than gender and race, especially when topics are addressed in terms of biological differences. To conduct research in these areas or comment favorably on research can subject one to scorn.
When these topics are addressed, they generally take the form of philosophical debates. Anthony Walsh focuses upon such debates and supporting research. He divides parties into biologists and social constructionists, arguing that biologists remain focused on laboratory work, while constructionists are acutely aware of the impact of biologists in contested territories.
Science Wars introduces the ideas motivating the parties and examines social constructionism and its issues with science. He explores arguments over conceptual tools scientists love and constructionists abhor, and he provides a solid discussion of the co-evolution of genes and culture. Walsh then focuses his attention on gender, how constructionists view it, and the neuroscience explanation of gender differences. Moving to race, Walsh looks at how some have tried to bury the concept of race, while others emphasize it. He considers definitions of race—essentialist, taxonomic, population, and lineage—as they have evolved from the time of the Enlightenment to the present. And finally, he attempts to bring the opposing sides together by pointing out what each can bring to a meaningful discussion.
Industry Reviews
-Science Wars: Politics, Gender, and Race documents the conflict being fought in scientific circles between those who want science to be linked to political agendas and others who believe that science should be an independent, uncontrolled discipline. Much of what passes for scientific 'facts' and debate is in fact controlled more by political perspective than authentic bipartisan scientific investigation, and Science Wars documents this process, explaining how science becomes corrupted and what must be done to clarify intellectual pursuits. The result is a pick for scientists, academics and students alike, and draws important connections between scientific perspective and political agendas that lead to misinterpretations and popular fallacies.-
--California Bookwatch
-Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all.
-Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account.
-Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do.-
--John Wright, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati
"Science Wars: Politics, Gender, and Race documents the conflict being fought in scientific circles between those who want science to be linked to political agendas and others who believe that science should be an independent, uncontrolled discipline. Much of what passes for scientific 'facts' and debate is in fact controlled more by political perspective than authentic bipartisan scientific investigation, and Science Wars documents this process, explaining how science becomes corrupted and what must be done to clarify intellectual pursuits. The result is a pick for scientists, academics and students alike, and draws important connections between scientific perspective and political agendas that lead to misinterpretations and popular fallacies."
--California Bookwatch
"Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all.
"Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account.
"Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do."
--John Wright, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati
"Science Wars: Politics, Gender, and Race documents the conflict being fought in scientific circles between those who want science to be linked to political agendas and others who believe that science should be an independent, uncontrolled discipline. Much of what passes for scientific 'facts' and debate is in fact controlled more by political perspective than authentic bipartisan scientific investigation, and Science Wars documents this process, explaining how science becomes corrupted and what must be done to clarify intellectual pursuits. The result is a pick for scientists, academics and students alike, and draws important connections between scientific perspective and political agendas that lead to misinterpretations and popular fallacies."
--California Bookwatch
"Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all.
"Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account.
"Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do."
--John Wright, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati
"Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all.
"Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account.
"Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do."
--John Wright, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati
"Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all.
"Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account.
"Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do."
--John Walsh, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1The Science Wars
*Platonist or Aristotelian?
*Temperament and Visions
*Early Science Wars: A Very Short History
*The Current Scene
*Conclusion
Chapter 2Social Constructionism
*What Is Social Constructionism?
*Weak versus Strong Social Constructionism
*Fact Constructionism
*Sticking Points: Contingency, Nominalism, and Scientific Stability
*Conclusion
Chapter 3Science and Knowing
*Defending Science
* Rationalism
*Francis Bacon and Empiricism
*Bacon and Metaphor
*Thomas Kuhn and Scientific Relativism and Revolution
*Relativism
*Conclusion
Chapter 4The Conceptual Tools of Science
*Terms of Opprobrium
*Determinism and Freedom
*"Biological Determinism"
*Essentialism
*Reductionism
*Conclusion
Chapter 5Human Nature
*Is There a Human Nature, and How Do We Know?
*Natural Selection and Human Nature
*Sexual Selection and Male-Female Natures
*Selection for Biparental Care and Its Consequences
*Conclusion
Chapter 6Social Constructionism and Gender
*Gender Construction
*Gender Socialization and Gender Differences
*The Influence of Margaret Mead
*Ecological Explanations
*Melford Spiro: The Reluctant Apostate
*Conclusion
Chapter 7The Neurohormonal Basis of Gender
*Sexing the Brain
*Disorders of Sex Development: What Can They Tell Us about Gender?
*Transsexuals
*Other Gender-Confounding Conditions
*Conclusion
Chapter 8A Further Journey into the Gendered Brain
*Sex on the Brain
*Softwiring the Brain
*Brain Laterality
*Arousal Levels
*Dolls, Trucks, Evolution, and the Visual System
*Sugar and Spice; Snips and Snails
*Empathy
*Fear
*Conclusion
Chapter 9Race and Racism
*Race as Social Construct
*Race in Antiquity and Its Relationship to Slavery
*Racism East and West
*Is Race a Socially Dangerous Idea?
*Race and Racism in the Modern United States
*Conclusion
Chapter 10The Enlightenment and Scientific
*Racial Classification
*Major Definitions of Race
*Morphology and Race
*Evolution and Behavior
*Behavioral and Psychological Traits and Race
*Anti-White Racism and White Studies
*Conclusion
Chapter 11Race and Molecular Genetics
*Essentialism Revisited
*How Does One Prove that Something Does Not Exist?
*Race and Genetic Distance
*Lewontin Proves a Negativeâ"or Does He?
*Postgenomic Clustering Studies
*Conclusion1
Chapter 12Is Peace Possible?
*Know Thy Enemy
*Arguments from Fear
*The Moralistic Fallacy
*Is Detente Possible?
*Gender, Race, and Interactive Kinds
*A Rose Is a Rose by Any Other Nameâ"Or Is It?
*Conclusion
References
Index
ISBN: 9781412851633
ISBN-10: 1412851637
Published: 30th July 2013
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Number of Pages: 210
Audience: General Adult
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Inc
Country of Publication: GB
Edition Number: 1
Dimensions (cm): 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.91
Weight (kg): 0.43
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This product is categorised by
- Non-FictionSociology & AnthropologySociology
- Non-FictionScienceBiology, Life Sciences
- Non-FictionSociety & CultureSocial GroupsEthnic Studies
- Non-FictionSociety & CultureSocial GroupsGender Studies
- Non-FictionScienceScience in GeneralPhilosophy of Science
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