The Idea Of ‘Race’ And Racial Differences

Burhan Ozfidan, Omer Ugurlu

Abstract


This study has explained the scientific validity of race with biological approach (IQ and gene profile) with its criticism in sociology and anthropology. In exploring the scientific validity of race the researchers will give emphasis to the works on intelligence quotient (IQ) and genetic aspects (Alland, 2004; Graves, 2006; Herrnstein & Murray, 1996; Lynn, 2008).   Race is mostly used to classify human beings in large and distinct populations by cultural, ethnic, genetic, geographical, historical, religious, or social affiliation (Abercrombie, Hill, & Turner, 1984). Many debates on race have increased and have major effects on the development of race as a scientific area such as biological race, cultural race, anthropological race (Banton, 1998). First of all, this study will examine some historical background of race and distinction between race and ethnicity. Next, the researchers will explore mental abilities as highlighted by IQ showing a discrepancy among racial groups.  In the third section of the study, the researchers will focus on genetically distinguished populations. As a result of this study, scientific validity of race implies that different branches of science on the subject of human distinction lack concurrence. Some branches of anthropology and sociology have a strong consensus on race, but some branches of biology recognize the word race by IQ score and some of them link race and gene.


Keywords


Race, IQ, ethnicity, gene

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References


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