An Analysis of Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray's The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life

Name: An Analysis of Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray's The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life
Brand: Christine Ma
SKU: 9781912128488
Price: 7.31 GBP
Availability: InStock

by Christine Ma

Title:

Author:

Christine Ma

Series (if any):

The Macat Library

Edited by:

Michael Schapira

Format:

Paperback

Number of pages:

112 pages

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis Ltd (Sales)

ISBN-13:

9781912128488

EAN:

9781912128488

Classifications:

Literature: history and criticism

Weight (g):

248

Dimensions (mm):

200 x 136 x 6

Publication Country:

United Kingdom

Language:

English

Condition:

New

Price:£7.31

3 copies in stock

Qty

Description

Herrnstein & Murray's The Bell Curve is a deeply controversial text that raises serious issues about the stakes involved in reasoning and interpretation. The authors' central contention is that intelligence is the primary factor determining social outcomes for individuals - and that it is a better predictor of achievement than income, background or socioeconomic status. One of the major issues raised by the book was its discussion of 'racial differences in intelligence,' and its contention that there is a link between the low observed test scores and social outcomes for African-Americans and their lack of social attainment. While the authors produce and interpret a great deal of data to back up their contentions, they ultimately fail to tackle the problem that neither 'intelligence' nor 'race' have widely accepted definitions in biology, anthropology or sociology. In consequence, the book has been termed both 'racist' and 'pseudoscientific' thanks to what its critics see as both its faulty reasoning and its uncautious interpretation of evidence. The debate continues to this day, with academics on both sides engaged in fierce arguments over what can be argued from the data that Herrnstein and Murray used.