Overview

Few issues cause academics to disagree more than gender and race, especially when topics are addressed in terms of biological differences. To conduct research in these areas or comment favorably on research can subject one to scorn. When these topics are addressed, they generally take the form of philosophical debates. Anthony Walsh focuses upon such debates and supporting research. He divides parties into biologists and social constructionists, arguing that biologists remain focused on laboratory work, while constructionists are acutely aware of the impact of biologists in contested territories. Science Wars introduces the ideas motivating the parties and examines social constructionism and its issues with science. He explores arguments over conceptual tools scientists love and constructionists abhor, and he provides a solid discussion of the co-evolution of genes and culture. Walsh then focuses his attention on gender, how constructionists view it, and the neuroscience explanation of gender differences. Moving to race, Walsh looks at how some have tried to bury the concept of race, while others emphasize it. He considers definitions of race—essentialist, taxonomic, population, and lineage—as they have evolved from the time of the Enlightenment to the present. And finally, he attempts to bring the opposing sides together by pointing out what each can bring to a meaningful discussion.

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9781412851633

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-Science Wars: Politics, Gender, and Race documents the conflict being fought in scientific circles between those who want science to be linked to political agendas and others who believe that science should be an independent, uncontrolled discipline. Much of what passes for scientific 'facts' and debate is in fact controlled more by political perspective than authentic bipartisan scientific investigation, and Science Wars documents this process, explaining how science becomes corrupted and what must be done to clarify intellectual pursuits. The result is a pick for scientists, academics and students alike, and draws important connections between scientific perspective and political agendas that lead to misinterpretations and popular fallacies.- --California Bookwatch -Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all. -Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account. -Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do.- --John Wright, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati Science Wars: Politics, Gender, and Race documents the conflict being fought in scientific circles between those who want science to be linked to political agendas and others who believe that science should be an independent, uncontrolled discipline. Much of what passes for scientific 'facts' and debate is in fact controlled more by political perspective than authentic bipartisan scientific investigation, and Science Wars documents this process, explaining how science becomes corrupted and what must be done to clarify intellectual pursuits. The result is a pick for scientists, academics and students alike, and draws important connections between scientific perspective and political agendas that lead to misinterpretations and popular fallacies. --California Bookwatch Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all. Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account. Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do. --John Wright, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati Science Wars: Politics, Gender, and Race documents the conflict being fought in scientific circles between those who want science to be linked to political agendas and others who believe that science should be an independent, uncontrolled discipline. Much of what passes for scientific 'facts' and debate is in fact controlled more by political perspective than authentic bipartisan scientific investigation, and Science Wars documents this process, explaining how science becomes corrupted and what must be done to clarify intellectual pursuits. The result is a pick for scientists, academics and students alike, and draws important connections between scientific perspective and political agendas that lead to misinterpretations and popular fallacies. --California Bookwatch Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all. Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account. Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do. --John Wright, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all. Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account. Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do. --John Wright, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all. Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account. Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do. --John Walsh, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati

<p> Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all. <p> Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account. <p> Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do. <p> --John Walsh, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati

Science Wars documents the real war being waged in science--the war between those who want to make science subservient to their political goals, and those who still believe that science should be coldly objective. Walsh covers the varied ways that intellectual brilliance has made honesty a secondary concern or, worst yet, no concern at all. Few academics are as honest as Anthony Walsh. Unconcerned with matters of political correctness, Walsh describes in vivid detail the academic controversies that swirl around matters of sex and race. You will find no clearer explanation about these debates, and you will find no more honest account. Walsh has done in Science Wars what few other scholars would dare to do: he has revealed the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for academic debate is, today, infected with political ideology. The political left loves to proclaim how conservatives deny science. In Science Wars, Walsh shows an uncomfortable reality--that the left has done much more to corrupt science than the right could ever do. --John Wright, professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati

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