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Of race and reason
eightyeight Updated: 2004-01-23 19:06
About race:
Like I said, a definition would probably embrace some geographical aspect. The traits we choose to distinguish as unique, is a pattern of physical phenotypic expressions of a set of limited set of alleles. The question might be, do these alleles migrate independently? But that is a genetic question and not a social question.
These guys would argue that intelligence is somehow linked to the phenotypic characteristics that we recognize in a race. But there is no genetic evidence to show any linkage. In fact, the two types of characteristics are under different selective pressures.
Racial phenotypes are usually distinguished by the limited expression of the characteristics we associate with race. None of these characteristics are subject to strong selective pressure. Except, of course, and only until more recently, if those characteristics are in vogue with human preference and ability. Then during these short periods of time there is a social preference that has a very limited period of pressure and a limited strength.
The dominant force acting on the selection of allelic expression is the genes that aid in the survival of that individual's heritable genetic propensity. Intelligence arguably is one of those characteristics. It is likely to aid's in the increased possibility that an individual's genetic contribution to the species, will be perpetuated -- that is the instinctual driving force of selection: the production of viable (and genetically successful) offspring.
Intelligence arguably gives one an advantage. It is under a different selective force than the attributes of race, which are physical characteristics, whose expression has been limited, or constrained, by time and geography.
Physical racial characteristics make for a uniquely recognized pattern, but these characteristics are not really under any selective pressure, until now and recently. Because the physical characteristics of race are not selected upon by survival pressures. Whereas, intelligence can be selected, by its ability to aid in survival.
The characteristics of racial traits, I therefore argue is artificial. Artificial in that is under the selective pressure of a people's limited phenotypic expression, the qualities of which taken together become a recognizable pattern. The patterns of these expressions have been limited by geography and have evolved separate dominant traits that make up the pattern. Until recently, geography has kept these races separate, and the patterns distinct.
In cases where sub-races have warred on each other for territory and genetic dominance is perhaps a story of what selection pressure was actually at work to produce a modern racial pattern. That in itself may be interesting. But that should not become overly mixed into the concept of natural selective pressure, but recognized as a force that will have other complex forces acting periodically, with and against it. A complex set of actions, reactions, etc., with a variety of underlying influences -- a difficult statistic! How strong is that force to act upon the genetic make-up of a race, will not be an easy guess.
Perhaps to get to the underlying forces of the selection pressures that have acted on races to produce their culture and way of life is a good study. But, these pressures are of a different sort than those that have produced the physical traits of racial phenotypes. There is no genetic evidence to show linkage and there is no evolutionary evidence to suggest that there should be any linkage.
To associate attributes to races may just be one of our laziest mental impulses -- to associate coincidence.
The society of a race or group of humans is an interesting topic. But the physical characteristics that make a recognizable phenotypic racial pattern have little to so with that particular's people's genetic contribution. In fact, the social and cultural forces, which are of greater importance and real interest, are likely to have nothing to do with genetic makeup, because the forces that acted on different societies were relatively universal.
So perhaps the human species has inherited a variety of groups that have produced a lot of powerful warriors, powerful politicians, powerful power-brokers, territorialists, and crooks and thieves.
Perhaps the world has also been blessed. Each of these societies has had to evolve to a separate perspective. But, a new age has dawned! We know about each other, we are all together on one small planet -- half a world away, is only half a day to travel!
By melding perspectives, a greater realization of ourselves will emerge. The underlying civilizing effect of cultures and races accepting and understanding each other can aid our species to a greater self-realization, a necessary maturity that can perhaps lead to the taking care of ourselves and our world.
Peace!
| The above content represents the view of the author only. |
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