Taking the science out of pseudoscience

Alx V. Dark (avd5863@IS.NYU.EDU)
Sun, 30 Oct 1994 15:45:17 -0500

In a way, we're fortunate that Rushton brings his nonsense to us, so that
we don't make the mistake of thinking our time should be spent tracking
it down in some bookstore or library in order to develop careful
refutations. Here I was, all exersized about Rushton, and he came on
ANTHRO-L and basically said the equvalent of "the moon is kept in orbit
by the production of Roquefort cheese in southern France." An airtight
argument, as long as you don't feel the need for a mechanism.

If we do go through another round of argument about Rushton, let's aim
our scientific demonstrations to the positive, existing argument against
the value of the concept of race as an explanation for behavioral, social
and cultural differences, not for Rushton -- but for any wayward puppies
on ANTHRO-L who have been confused by the blah blah blah.

I doubt Rushton will take up the issue of his personal motivations for
sublimating hate as pseudoscience; I do think it is depressing that with
nothing more than what Rushton has come up with, he's managed to go on
t.v.

______________________________ ____________________________
Alx V. Dark Department of Anthropology
internet: avd5863@is.nyu.edu New York University
"Wash your brains, think 25 Waverly Place
again, double check" -- H3O New York, NY 10003 USA