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bgsu1144763931.pdf (340.11 KB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
BIOLOGY, POLICY, AND THE RACIAL CONTRACT
Author Info
Grinnell, Jason David
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1144763931
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2006, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Philosophy.
Abstract
The publication of works such as Why Race Matters, by Michael Levin (1997) and The Bell Curve, by Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray (1994) suggests that despite broad agreement that racism is unacceptable, racial thinking is still a powerful force in moral and political decision making. These authors work from a racialist perspective, arguing that biologically distinct races do exist, that the races differ from each other in socially important ways, that these differences are difficult if not impossible to attenuate, and that these differences should thus be considered in social policy decisions. This dissertation documents some of the reasons for rejecting each of those claims, and argues that the concept of the racial contract as developed by Charles Mills provides a useful framework for understanding why the positions defended by Levin, et al, remain influential despite their many flaws.
Committee
Michael Bradie (Advisor)
Pages
126 p.
Subject Headings
Philosophy
Keywords
philosophy
;
biology
;
race
;
racial contract
;
social contract
;
Michael Levin
;
Charles Mills
;
Richard Herrnstein
;
Charles Murray
;
racialism
Recommended Citations
Refworks
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Citations
Grinnell, J. D. (2006).
BIOLOGY, POLICY, AND THE RACIAL CONTRACT
[Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1144763931
APA Style (7th edition)
Grinnell, Jason.
BIOLOGY, POLICY, AND THE RACIAL CONTRACT.
2006. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1144763931.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Grinnell, Jason. "BIOLOGY, POLICY, AND THE RACIAL CONTRACT." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1144763931
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
bgsu1144763931
Download Count:
3,747
Copyright Info
© 2006, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.