Interdisciplinary Studies in Letters - Stephen Jay Gould's Mismeasure of Man

If the misery of our poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.

Objectivity cannot be equated with mental blankness; rather, objectivity resides in recognizing your preferences and then subjecting them to especially harsh scrutiny---and also a willingness to revise or abandon your theories when the tests fail (as they usually do).

by permission of California Newsreel/ PBS/ Race: the power of an illusion; and

by permission of Professor Jonathan Marks/ University of North Carolina, Charlotte

1. Discuss Ten Things Everyone Should Know about Race. Do you agree or disagree with these statements. Are you surprised by any of these statements?

2. Where do we learn our ideas about race (home, school, friends, movies, television..?)

1. Is there a science problem with the 9 races division and illustration from 1939?

2. Discuss the frequency of Blood group allele B across the populations studied (handout). Discuss what you have learned from looking at these genetics data and then apply this knowledge to the 1939 textbook illustration.

Chapter Four : Measuring Bodies: Two Case Studies on the Apishness of Undesirables

1. Discuss the Race literacy quiz. Were you surprised by any of the correct answers?

1. Discuss the 19^th Century Punch cartoon as an illustration of Gould’s assertions in this chapter. How are they related?

1. What is the evidence that intelligence is not a simple Mendelian trait (such as tongue-rolling ability?)

2. Discuss the history of the idea of group intelligence and U.S. immigration restrictions in the early 20^th century.

3. What were the issues in the Supreme Court case Buck vs. Bell? What was the American eugenics movement and what were some of its impacts?

After over half a century since its writing, still one of the best works on race and racism.

Describes all aspects of the human Genome Project, which in recent years has completed mapping of the human genome

A wealth of information for reviewing the basic structure of DNA and fundamentals of genetics

A variety of article, interviews and illustrations on many of the topics covered in the Gould ISLS Unit

The “unofficial” Gould website, with great biographical information, Gould articles and quotes, and citations to his many works

Gould’s essay “The Median isn’t the Message”, about his own cancer survival. The essay has been an inspiration to many struggling with serious illnesses.

Paper Topics for Mismeasure of Man

Due dates:

Draft: Wednesday 5/10

Final paper: Wednesday 5/17

The final paper should be at least 4-5 pages, double-spaced and word-processed. This is our last ISLS out-of-class writing project and thus it should reflect what you have learned in the Program about academic paper writing. The paper should, of course, have a thesis and compellingly support that thesis. Please refer to Mismeasure and at least two other essays, articles or books. Make sure all resources are appropriately cited. Good Luck!

1. Gould says that the erroneous idea of innate and unchangeable differences between groups of people has a long history in the United States. He claims that this persistent idea has been used to support certain political agendas. Examine this assertion and provide evidence that supports or contradicts it.

2. One of the strengths of Mismeasure is Gould’s careful analysis of pseudo-scientific studies. Gould re-analyzes the data and conclusions of both the 19^th century craniologists like Samuel George Morton and the early 20^th century IQ researchers like H.H. Goddard. Choosing one of these as an example, review Gould’s critique of these historical studies.

3. The Eugenics Movement has an important history in America. Discuss the rise of American Eugenics, its impacts on U.S. social policy and the law, as well as its influence on German race ideology during the Nazi period.

4. In the “Allegory of the Metals” (Plato’s Republic) humanity is divided into base and precious metals. Trace the persistence of this hierarchical ordering of humans from Plato to the modern period by using examples from ISLS readings over three semesters (Plato, the Founding Fathers; Darwin, Marx, Gould and others weigh in on this issue.)

5. Data from modern studies of human population genetics, physical anthropology and archaeology indicate a very recent common origin for all living humans. What are these data and what are some of the controversies surrounding this matter.