PHILOSOPHY - Race: Racial Ontology #2 (Naturalist Theories of Race)

Wireless Philosophy

2 Apr 201609:10

Summary

TLDRIn this philosophical discourse, David Miguel Gray explores naturalist theories of race, suggesting that racial properties are physical, existing independently of human constructs. He contrasts this with social theories, where race is a human-made concept. Gray discusses the 'new biology of race,' which posits that while races have natural properties, these do not determine intellectual or moral characteristics. He introduces the concept of reproductively isolated breeding populations as a way to define race, considering both phenotypic and genotypic similarities. The video challenges viewers to consider how these naturalist views address the domain, expertise, and mismatch problems in racial ontology.

Takeaways

🎓 David Miguel Gray, an assistant professor of philosophy at Colgate University, introduces part two of a series on racial ontology, focusing on naturalist theories of race.
🌿 Naturalism in the context of race is the belief that racial properties are physical properties, as opposed to social properties that depend on human actions and decisions.
🔍 The script contrasts naturalist views with the idea that races are created by people, which will be explored in part three of the series.
📚 Historically, racial naturalism was associated with the belief in natural essences or inheritable properties that placed races in a hierarchical system, but these views are not scientifically supported today.
🔬 The 'new biology of race' suggests that races have natural properties common to most members, without attributing intellectual, moral, or behavioral characteristics to these properties.
🌱 Reproductively isolated breeding populations are proposed as a way to define race, where members of a group can sexually reproduce but are isolated from other groups, either geographically or by social barriers.
👪 The concept of ancestral relations is used to explain race membership, where if both parents belong to a race, their offspring also belong to that race, but this can lead to questions about mixed-race individuals.
🔄 The script points out the infinite regress problem in explaining race membership through ancestry, as the explanation keeps being pushed back a generation.
🔄 Two potential solutions to the infinite regress problem are proposed: sharing observable phenotypic properties or sharing genetic properties within a reproductively isolated breeding population.
📖 The script recommends readings by Michael Udel, Dorothy Roberts, Robert DeSalle, Sarah Tishkoff, and Alan Templeton for further understanding of the topic.
🤔 The discussion invites further contemplation on how naturalist accounts of race can address the domain problem, the expertise and deference problem, and the mismatch problem outlined in the first part of the series.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the second part of the series on racial ontology?
-The main focus is on examining naturalist theories of race, which propose that racial properties are physical properties of the natural world.
What does naturalism entail in the context of race?
-In the context of race, naturalism suggests that racial properties are physical and can be investigated and discovered by natural scientists, independent of human actions or decision-making.
What is the difference between natural properties and social properties as discussed in the script?
-Natural properties are those that are not dependent on human actions or decisions, like the limestone of the Great Sphinx of Giza. Social properties, on the other hand, are dependent on human acts and decisions, such as the statue's shape into a Sphinx.
What is meant by 'reproductively isolated breeding populations' in the script?
-Reproductively isolated breeding populations refer to groups of the same species that live in the same place and can sexually reproduce, but do not interbreed with other groups due to geographical or social barriers.
How does the concept of ancestral relations play a role in defining race according to the naturalist view presented?
-Ancestral relations are used to define race by considering if one's parents are both of a particular race, then the offspring is also of that race, assuming a shared genetic or phenotypic heritage.
What are the two options given to explain what makes someone a member of a race in the naturalist account?
-The two options are: 1) sharing simple phenotypic or observable properties specific to other members of one's reproductively isolated breeding population, or 2) sharing similar genotypic or genetic properties.
What problem arises when trying to define race using ancestral relations and reproductively isolated breeding populations?
-The problem of infinite regress arises, as the explanation of what makes someone a member of a race is pushed back a generation each time the question is asked, without a clear starting point.
What are some of the older views on racial naturalism that the script mentions are not currently held for scientific reasons?
-Older views included the idea that races have natural essences or shared observable natural properties that place them into a hierarchical system based on physical, behavioral, intellectual, and moral characteristics.
Who are some of the authors recommended for further reading on the topic of race and genetics?
-The authors recommended are Michael Udel, Dorothy Roberts, Robert DeSalle, Sarah Tishkoff, and Alan Templeton.
What is the 'new biology of race' as mentioned in the script?
-The 'new biology of race' refers to the view that races have natural properties common to most members of that race, but these properties do not imply any intellectual, moral, or behavioral characteristics.
What are the potential problems that a naturalist account of race must address according to the script?
-A naturalist account of race must address the domain problem, the expertise and deference problem, and the mismatch problem, which were outlined in the first video of the series.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Introduction to Naturalist Theories of Race

David Miguel Gray, an assistant professor of philosophy at Colgate University, introduces the concept of naturalist theories of race. He explains that naturalism is the belief that properties within a domain of investigation, such as physical properties, are inherent in the natural world. In the context of race, naturalism suggests that racial properties are physical and can be investigated and discovered by natural scientists. Gray contrasts this with social properties, which are dependent on human actions and decisions. He discusses the historical view of race as having natural essences or shared properties that place races in a hierarchical system, but notes that modern perspectives, referred to as the 'new biology of race,' do not associate racial properties with intellectual, moral, or behavioral characteristics. Instead, races are seen as potentially defined by reproductively isolated breeding populations, which can be influenced by geographical or social factors.

05:01

🌐 Defining Race Through Ancestral Relations and Reproductive Isolation

The second paragraph delves into how races might be defined using ancestral relations and reproductively isolated breeding populations. Gray explains that these populations are groups of the same species that can sexually reproduce but are isolated due to geographical or social barriers. He discusses the concept of defining race through ancestry, where an individual's race is determined by their parents' race. However, this approach presents challenges, such as what to classify offspring when parents are of different races or the infinite regress problem of explaining what makes someone a member of a race. To address these issues, Gray suggests two options: one based on shared phenotypic properties and the other on genotypic or genetic similarities. He concludes by encouraging further thought on how these naturalist views can address the domain problem, expertise and deference problem, and mismatch problem introduced in the first video of the series.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Naturalism

Naturalism, in the context of the video, refers to the philosophical view that all properties within a domain of investigation are physical properties. The video discusses naturalist theories of race, suggesting that racial properties are physical, as opposed to social or abstract. This concept is central to the video's exploration of racial ontology, as it sets the stage for discussing whether race can be understood in terms of the natural world.

💡Racial Ontology

Racial ontology is the study of the nature and existence of race. The video series, of which this is part two, delves into the perplexing questions surrounding how race can be defined and understood. It is a guide for the perplexed, aiming to clarify the complex issues involved in racial categorization and existence.

💡Domain Problem

The domain problem is one of the three general problems discussed in the first part of the series that make giving any kind of race difficult. It refers to the challenge of defining the scope or domain of what race encompasses. The video implies that this problem is inherent in any attempt to categorize race, whether from a naturalist or social perspective.

💡Expertise and Deference Problem

The expertise and deference problem highlights the difficulty in determining who has the authority to define race and to what extent we should rely on their expertise. The video suggests that this problem arises because different fields and individuals may have varying and sometimes conflicting understandings of race.

💡Mismatch Problem

The mismatch problem refers to the inconsistencies between how race is categorized and the actual genetic or physical diversity among humans. The video uses this term to illustrate the challenges in aligning racial classifications with biological reality.

💡Physical Properties

Physical properties are characteristics that are considered to be part of the natural world and can be observed or measured. In the video, physical properties are contrasted with social properties to argue that, from a naturalist perspective, racial properties are physical, existing independently of human constructs.

💡Social Properties

Social properties are those that depend on human actions and decisions. The video contrasts social properties with physical properties to discuss the alternative view that racial properties might be social, meaning they are created and defined by human interactions and societal norms.

💡Reproductively Isolated Breeding Populations

Reproductively isolated breeding populations are groups within the same species that do not interbreed due to geographical or social barriers. The video suggests that these populations could be used to define race from a naturalist perspective, as they might share common genetic or phenotypic traits.

💡Genotypic Properties

Genotypic properties refer to an individual's genetic makeup. The video discusses how genotypic similarities might be used to define race, even though these genetic traits may not always correspond to observable physical traits (phenotypic properties).

💡Phenotypic Properties

Phenotypic properties are the observable physical characteristics of an individual, such as skin color or hair type. The video considers phenotypic properties as a potential basis for racial categorization from a naturalist perspective, although it notes that these may not always align with genotypic properties.

💡Ancestral Relations

Ancestral relations refer to the concept of defining race through lineage or family history. The video explores how one's race might be determined by the race of one's ancestors, which is a common approach in naturalist theories of race.

Highlights

Introduction to part two of a series on racial ontology, focusing on naturalist theories of race.

Definition of naturalism as the view that properties within a domain of investigation are physical properties.

Explanation of how naturalism applies to race, suggesting racial properties are physical.

Contrast between natural properties and social properties, with examples.

The idea that races exist independently of human actions, as per naturalist views.

Overview of the historical association of race with natural properties and the concept of racial hierarchy.

Critique of old racial biology and the shift towards the new biology of race.

Description of the new biology of race, which does not link racial properties to intellectual or moral characteristics.

Discussion on the potential natural properties that could define race, such as reproductively isolated breeding populations.

Explanation of reproductively isolated breeding populations and their potential role in defining race.

Challenges with defining race through ancestral relations and the infinite regress problem.

Proposal of using phenotypic or genotypic similarities to define race within reproductively isolated breeding populations.

Recommendations for further reading on the topic, including works by Michael Udell, Dorothy Roberts, and others.

Anticipation of part three, which will discuss social theories of race.

Invitation for the audience to consider how the naturalist account of race can address the domain, expertise, and mismatch problems.