GEN&SEX 139 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Biological Determinism, Social Darwinism, Sexual Selection
8 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Biological determinism: the idea that human behavior or other characteristics are determined and controlled by biology: can lead to the naturalization of inequality:social disparities (poverty, disease, educational) On the origin of species ( 1859) Darwin was not the first or the only scientist developing a theory of evolution, but darwinism had a profound effect. Natural selection had the potential to challenge racial science. Supported monogenism: highlighted the common origins of life and humans. Empheasized adaptation to the environment: natural selection doesn"t a clear hierarchy of development. Darwins the descent of man (1871) created a chain from ape to european. Racial science filled the gaps between humans and animals: darwin accepted hierarchy among races, argued that natural selection led to most fit races rising to the top of the scale of civilization. Descent of man: more advanced races have more sex.
