...policies were first implemented in the early 1900 in the United States. It has roots in France, Germany, Great Britain and the United States. The scientific standing eugenics started to decay when Ernst Rudin used eugenics as a validation for the racial policies of Nazi Germany. In Germany, the zeitgeist German spirit of a time was commonly used. Zeitgeist was expressed through means such as in culture or in philosophy where its argument was that if Darwin had not existed, his theory of evolution would still have been in print. Francis Galton, a British philosopher, coined the term eugenics in 1883 and gave a detailed meaning that eugenics is all influences that are likely to give more suitable races a better probability of surviving over the less suitable. After reading Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, Galton decided to build upon Darwin’s ideas. According to Darwin, every species is fertile enough that if all offsprings survived to reproduce, the population would grow. Resources such as food were also limited. Darwin also noted that individuals in a population vary from one another and much of this variation is hereditary. Herbert Spencer, who is commonly known as the...
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...THINKING ABOUT DISCRIMINATION IN THE GENETIC AGE Paul Steven Miller27 The information age has taken hold, and the genetic revolution is in full swing. With apologies to Aldous Huxley, we stand at the precipice of a brave new world. ...History has taught us that the wonders of science hold unique power to sway and se- duce, and too often to corrupt, the course of human nature. James Watson [co-discoverer of the double helix] has urged that genetic progress in health can come only with a firm awareness of the potential for abuse. Whether the scientific community is mobilized to deride some- thing as junk science or voodoo genetics may ultimately not matter. Sometimes public opinion and market forces prevail, regardless of whether something is scientifically rational. As humanity charts a new course, it...must insist that genetic profiles—in whatever form they take—remain in the control of the individual, and should never be used to violate fundamental human rights. The challenge for scientists, philosophers, ethicists, jurists, and policymakers is how to best balance the rights of the individual against the needs of society in this rapidly changing world. Eugenics and Genetics The U.S. Supreme Court legitimized state–sponsored sterilization in the name of eugenics in its landmark decision of Buck v. Bell. Carrie Buck was sent to the State Colony of Epileptics and the Feeble–Minded in Virginia to have a child conceived when she was raped by the nephew of her foster parents...
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...Introduction: The Origins of Psychology Wilhelm Wundt The Founder of Psychology Today, psychology is defined as the science of behavior and mental processes, a definition that reflects psychology’s origins and history. KEY QUESTIONS What roles did Wundt and James play in establishing psychology? What were the early schools and approaches in psychology, and how did their views differ? you need to understand how the definition of psychology has evolved over the past 130 years to what it is today—the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Indeed, the early history of psychology is the history of a field struggling to define itself as a separate and unique scientific discipline. The early psychologists struggled with such fundamental issues as: • How should psychology be defined? • What is the proper subject matter of psychology? • Which areas of human experience should be studied? • What methods should be used to investigate psychological issues? • Should psychology include the study of nonhuman animal behavior? • Should psychological findings be used to change or enhance human behavior? These debates helped set the tone of the new science, define its scope, and set its limits. Over the past century, the shifting focus of these debates has influenced the topics studied and the research methods used. Wundt used scientific methods to study fundamental psychological processes, such as mental reaction times in response to visual or auditory stimuli...
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...An understanding of Social Darwinism Social Darwinism is the application of the theory of natural selection to social, political and economic issues, it follows the mantra of the strong survive including animals and human issues. This theory was used to promote the idea that the white Europeans race was superior to others and destined to rule over them. Darwin’s influence is not only limited to science, but rather it has influenced political, social and economic thinking. People have been trying to apply it to types of human relations and this resulted to scramble of Africa, apartheid, genocide, demining of social values and the controlled economies by super powers. Malthus’s writings provided the germ Darwin’s theory of natural selection....
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...The Rwanda Genocide Xenophobia, the hatred or fear of certain targeted ‘outsiders,’ is one of the most destructive group phenomena in human history. Various incidents in our collective past portray how xenophobia has negatively impacted the lives of so many people. One of the most outright and horrific displays of this destructive force was seen in the German treatment of the Jewish race before and during the Second World War. These events were part of the holocaust, associated with the Nazi notions of racial superiority especially in contrast with their notion of Jewish inferiority. Racial superiority has caused much violence and many deaths for those who have been labeled by the ‘superior’ as ‘inferior.’ This violence has been spawned mostly by an extreme hatred for those viewed as different or inferior. Furthermore, such feelings of hatred have been translated into outright acts of violence against those viewed as inferior, and this at times often prompted retaliation against their oppressors, such as the case in Rwanda. With these premises, the world has been witness to various acts of violence, including the massacre of a significant number of people, all in the name of racial superiority. The concerned countries of the world have often refused to act in time to stop these events even though ample signs of trouble were apparent. Racial superiority has traditionally been an issue for various countries at one point or another in their history, but none worse than...
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...from our daily lives. He doesn’t attempt to bring us to any definite answers. As we move through the chapters, he continuously makes us rethink what he writes in an attempt to reevaluate our own beliefs. In doing so, he encourages us to keep an open mind, to not accept any blindly and proves that there can be no end to questions and analysis. The Method of Cartesian Doubt is what makes change and progress possible. Philosophy teaches us morality, inquisitiveness, how to live our lives, how to cope with our sensations and emotions, how to organize our societies and how to find meaning in our daily struggles. Philosophy is crucial to our lives, as without its ideas and arguments, we wouldn’t know to argue against injustice, wars, slavery, discrimination and inequality. Warburton’s A Little History of Philosophy serves as a great introduction to this important discipline, which teaches people to think critically and to challenge themselves. It provides a lot of insight into everyday life and describes the views and thoughts of philosophers in much depth, without losing the reader's’ interest. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone, young or old, as the questions it raises are important and relative to any age. Using Descartes famous quote, “I think, therefore I am”, Warburton demonstrates that to stop questioning would mean to stop...
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...that play into the equation. Clearly the debate continues and it has not only two, but many sides. The nature vs. nurture debate can often get heated and is quite controversial. According to an article from Diffen (2015), “Some observers offer the criticism that modern science tends to give too much weight to the nature side of the argument, in part because of the potential harm that has come from rationalized racism. Historically, much of this debate has had undertones of racist and eugenicist policies — the notion of race as a scientific truth has often been assumed as a prerequisite in various incarnations of the nature versus nurture debate. In the past, heredity was often used as ‘scientific’ justification for various forms of discrimination and oppression along racial and class lines.” In addition, it is believed by some that stereotypes that people internalize about their race can make them...
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...history as the fourth child. His grandfather was the noted biologist and naturalist T.H. Huxley, an early proponent of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. His father, Leonard, was a teacher and a writer. His mother, Julia, was the descendent of the English poet Matthew Arnold. As Aldous grew older, his older brothers Julian and Andrew become accomplished biologists from there Huxley envisioned himself as a scientist ever since.He later on attended Eton, a prestigious school. He was temporarily blind. He later abandoned the thought of becoming a scientist and decided to become a poet.(1) In 1916, Aldous graduated with honors from Oxford University. Right after graduating, Aldous Huxley started establishing his career. He joined the Bloomsbury Group which at the time had a profound influence on British society. The group was joined by intellectuals such as E.M. Foster.(2) The group had informal connected around the British museum and their beliefs in values were of art, literature, feminism, pacifism, and sexual liberation, what Brave New World exactly adapts in the text. The book is based on Huxley’s satirical vision of a totalitarian society of the future. When an outsider comes, he rather die than to live in such a society of conformity much like in Brave New World. Based on free will vs. enslavement where creativity isn’t allowed, class discrimination of the rich and poor, sexism, and where only certain knowledge isn’t allowed for one to now know more than the other kind. ()...
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...For the purpose of this assignment I am going to discuss the social construct of disability by focusing on eugenics and language. In addition to the medical and social model of disability, segregation and the oppression of disability. Furthermore the Medias influence on social constructs. Within the United Kingdom there are an estimated 9 million disabled adults. (Office for Disability Issues updated Department for Work and Pensions estimates based on Family Resources survey 2009/10). Despite the high number, people with impairments are treated as a separate homogenous group to the rest of society. Firstly, to understand where we are today with disability as a social construction I will provide a historical account of disability in western society. To pinpoint precisely the origins of society’s attitude towards disability and disabled people would be almost impossible (Barton 1996). One theory that has been suggested, is that the view that our perceptions of impairments and disability are influenced by psychological fear of the unknown, the anomalous and the abnormal (Barton 1996 cites Douglas 1966). Historically, disability has been a source of oppression where disabled people have been socially excluded from many areas of social life. The exclusion can be traced back to an era when biblically ideas formed of society. The religious model of disability produced notions of what was acceptable and not acceptable; this included the exclusion of imperfections of the body. Imperfect...
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...eventually brought a great deal of success to its nation and followers. Based on the statements made by the authority, they demand the equality of the German people with all other nation and “how they demand land and soil (colonies) for the nourishment of [their] people” (NSDAP program ex.3). Just by looking through their ardor at the first glance, Nazism seems to approaches nationalism. However, when appraise and evaluate acutely about their political form, their nationalistic approaches are just the outer shell and the reality is turns out to be racist. In Nazism, their intention is to give favor to the people with German blood while excluding the foreign races. They made the numerous rules of restriction while strongly support the idea of discriminations for non-Germans while the people with German blood were advocated in almost every aspect in their country. Non-German people were forbidden to participate in many fields such as politics, cultural life and other intellectual activities. (Hitler 1937 speech ex.1). When Adolf Hitler started to practice a brutal dictatorship, many people were abjured to experience the Germany environment and they were forbidden for the rest of their life. This essay will argue the actions of Nazism while revealing their approach to racist. To being with, since the year that Adolf Hitler became a chief minister of...
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...with respect to race and intelligence. This paper gives an historical and ideological insight behind the development and application of intelligence tests by citing examples of their impact on legislation, social policy and intervention programmes in relation to Blacks. More importantly, a discussion of cultural bias in test design focuses on the response of Black psychologists who developed Black intelligence tests that portray whites as intellectually inferior in the same manner that Blacks are portrayed as intellectually inferior on tests devised by white psychologist. Furthermore, The hereditary perspective of intelligence is challenged by empirical evidence that centres on children with white ancestry to assess whether white genes influence intelligence while citing several sources that support the environmental explanation of the race gap in test scores. Consequently, this discussion questions the reliability and validity of intelligence tests that are used to reinforce the Black intellectual inferiority myth. The conclusive argument suggests in no uncertain terms that the Bell Curve is nothing more than the repackaging of racist pseudo-scientific conclusions by right wing academics, intent on rekindling a political debate premised on a racist manifesto to justify the withdrawal of intervention programmes that challenge existing social and racial hierarchies, that are perceived to transfer white power and privileges to undeserving Blacks. Special Thanks to: Dr. Madge Willis...
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...world today even in the 21st century. As the term has been associated through the centuries for negative connotations such as discrimination, prejudice and even violence, racism remains to be a volatile issue affecting millions of lives today. The definition of racism is based on the belief that a particular race based on physical genetic features is more dominant than another. As such, the one that views that his or her ethnicity possesses human traits and capacities that are inherently superior compared to another is an exhibition of racist behavior. As such, this belief becomes the basis for particular ethnic groups to discriminate on others that can be seen through institutional racism. This is when an entire ethic population denies another racial group basic civil liberties and benefits thus, continuing on the cycle of preferential treatment of a particular race. It is important to note that the United Nations has declared that racial discrimination and ethnicity discrimination are one and the same. Significantly, the partition of races can be traced back in history as early societies have traditionally divided human populations based on their race. As such, through the centuries sociologists, anthropologist and psychologists have tried to determine the root cause of racism especially with the detrimental effects of discrimination as a result of racist beliefs. Thus, the effects of racism continues to be a prevailing problem. It has been the cause of wars...
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...February 5, 2011 ABSTRACT Breadth This Knowledge Area Module (KAM) broadens common knowledge of societal and cultural development by looking beyond economic and conflict theories for understanding other positions regarding social advancement. The Breadth Component studies societal and cultural development in terms of evolutionary, cyclical, and fundamentalist theories and demonstrates why it is important to looking beyond the popularly accepted knowledge about social development represented by economic and conflict theory. This approach provides a more robust generalization that more adequately describes social advancement, and concludes that classical researchers did not consider leadership as a social segment to be studied, that influences societal and cultural development. Leadership understanding of societal and cultural development is critical for enabling them to lead positive social change. ABSTRACT Depth The Depth section compares modern research in societal and cultural development to the theories of classical researchers in order to further develop the findings of the classical study, and to determine if leadership consideration has been addressed in modern times. The study shows that the theories of classical researchers are sufficiently robust to support a consistent, continued basis for understanding societal and cultural development into modernity. This study broadens the Breadth section presentation, and demonstrates that modern researchers continue the...
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...ularism Modern Myths, Locked Minds by T. N. Madan Introduction: Scope, methods and Concepts 1. Secularization, secularism, Christian tradition and the Enlightenment: a brief history T. N. Madan differentiates between secularism, secularization and secularity. 1) Secularization refers to socio cultural processes in which the role of the sacred is progressively limited; 2) Secularism is the ideology that argues for the historical inevitability and progressive nature of secularization everywhere and 3) Secularity is the resultant state of society. The term "secularism" was first used by the British writer Holyoake in 1851 to describe his views of promoting a social order separate from religion. The English word ‘secular’ comes from the Latin ‘saeculum’, which means ‘an age’ or ‘the spirit of an age’ and has the same meaning as the Greek ‘aeon’. In general terms, secularism means “belonging to this age, or worldly” along with a denial of other worldly realities (i.e. religious). The Bible introduces the idea of divine creation in the book of Genesis. God speaks directly to Man in Genesis: “Be fertile and increase, fill the earth and master it”. As Peter Berger, a social theorist notes that in this the idea of a secular world is sown as a God who stands outside of the Cosmos which is his creation. This opens the way for self making activity which Berger calls ‘historization’. Caesar was the emperor of Rome. In a famous passage Jesus said, "Render to Caesar the things...
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...Final Exam Review – Psychology 101 INTRODUCTION You are influenced by: 1. Physiology of your nervous system 2. 5 Senses 3. Cognition – Thinking and Problem Solving 4. Social Environment 5. Personality 6. Stress & psychological disorders Psychology is the science of what? Behavior * Science Aspect * Based on Experiments * Behavior * What is behavior? Observable through * Neural * Verbal * Social * Etc. * What is behavior driven by? * Mind * Body * Environment Basic Research vs. Applied Research * Basic Research is the seeking of more knowledge but not to solve a problem * Applied Research is using knowledge to solve a problem Figuring out what a part of the brain does is an example of? Basic Research Knowing what a part of the brain does and using that information to analyze why a part of a person’s brain isn’t working correctly? Applied research BEGINNINGS OF PSYCHOLOGY Who established the first laboratory devoted to Psychology, when, and where? * William Wundt, 1879, Leipzig, Germany Before 1800, questions of the mind were reserved for what field? * Philosophy From 1800 to 1879, rapid advances took place in what field? * Physiology Early psychology applied what methods to the study of the mind? * Physiological NEURONS 1600: Descartes & the Garden of St. Germain * Statues “came to life” as...
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