David Friedman writes:
The denial of male/female differences is the most striking example of left wing hostility to the implications of Darwinian evolution, but not the only one. The reasons to expect differences among racial groups as conventionally defined are weaker, since males of all races play the same role in reproduction, as do females of all races. But we know that members of such groups differ in the distribution of observable physical characteristics–that, after all, is the main way we recognize them. That is pretty strong evidence that their ancestors adapted to at least somewhat different environments. There is no a priori reason to suppose that the optimal physical characteristics were different in those different environments but the optimal mental characteristics were the same.
Sure there is. Can anyone identify any environment inhabited by pre-modern humans that favoured the evolution of stupidity? Ingenuity, adaptability, the ability to perceive, understand and communicate - these are useful anywhere. Dark skin or white skin - these are not.
I’d also suggest that Friedman thinks about whether the number of genes involved in the determination of skin colour is likely to be as many as those involved in the determination of any heritable component of intelligence. This matters given humans evolved from a common ancestor who lived only some 5,000 - 10,000 years generations ago.
Lastly, (and I can’t believe this still has to be explained to people) Friedman talks about ‘racial groups’ as if that actually means something clear-cut, but it doesn’t. There is more genetic diversity within Africa than anywhere else, yet we’re still expected to treat Africans as part of the same ‘race’ because they share dark skin.
None of this bothers Friedman, who dresses up his straw-man attacks on the supposed unthinking ‘faiths’ (of course) of The Left with scientific terminology designed to wow his readers, who judging from the comments need little encouragement to assert their superiority over both darkies and evil pinko commies everywhere. Naturally, Arnold Kling approves.
Edited to correct amusing years / generations typo