2007-11-18

Treading Dangerous Ground...

I'm sure this will offend everyone.

"Among white Americans, the average IQ, as of a decade or so ago, was 103. Among Asian-Americans, it was 106. Among Jewish Americans, it was 113. Among Latino Americans, it was 89. Among African-Americans, it was 85. Around the world, studies find the same general pattern: whites 100, East Asians 106, sub-Sarahan Africans 70. One IQ table shows 113 in Hong Kong, 110 in Japan, and 100 in Britain. White populations in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States score closer to each other than to the worldwide black average. It's been that way for at least a century."

The possibility that race, or genes, play a part in determining intelligence, is a possibility that has to be considered, regardless of the social consequences. The problem is that this water has been muddied by both white supremacist whackos and liberal nut jobs that to even breathe this notion will stir up a hornet's nest.

But consider it -- what if it's true?


1 comment:

katie said...

hmmm ... not that I don't think Saletan approaches such questions with a fairly open mind, but let's note that his very first reference is to JP Rushton at UWO - a man funded by an organisation the Southern Poverty Law Centre calls a "hate group", amongst other critiques.

Not the strongest opening pitch?

- see you next week! So excited!