Harut Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 if we believe in evolution that we, human beings, originating from primitive organisms, grew to have a complex brain that allows us to learn, analyze, THINK, then isn't it possible that some racial/ethinic groups have evolved more than others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 It maybe true statistically but any racial group contains individuals that are really smart and evolved, so as far as I know there is no overwhelming evidence to support this theory (of a whole race being exclusively less developed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellthecat Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 The brain is just an organ like any other - so just as some races are taller,or smaller, or have different skin colour, or can run faster, or are more or less susceptible to particular diseases, so there must be some differences in the functioning of the brain between different races. But there is a lot more involved it the process of thinking than just the physical aspect of the brain - there are cultural aspects as well. For example, there are probably some people here that, because of their religious beliefs, would not even allow the thought to enter their head that there is such a thing as "evolution". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 Yah I agree with Steve that although genetics do play roles in how one's brain functions, up bringing, training, and learning to think has a lot to do with how one develops into an "intelligent" adult human. And as you know, I have often maintained that children are pretty damn stupid... of course this excludes any children of any forum members here. See I have to say that last part to avoid a confrontation with the always present parent of the "above average" child. But of course, no matter how much I trained as a child, chances of me being an NBA basketball player or a horse jockey would be very very slim. Genetic differences are present and combined with the right training can make huge differences in terms of relatives abilities of the select few humans that end up being extremes ... but in terms of averages, I don't think it's so clear cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 The other point to make here is that in terms of evolutionary time scales, the difference between Serb and Chinese is VERY tiney compared to the difference between humanoid and fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 The brain is just an organ like any other - so just as some races are taller,or smaller, or have different skin colour, or can run faster, or are more or less susceptible to particular diseases, so there must be some differences in the functioning of the brain between different races. Yes, but any representative of any given race uses only a small portion of the brain. So the relative physical differences do not really make a difference. We all use much less of our brains than the evolution has allowed. But there is a lot more involved it the process of thinking than just the physical aspect of the brain - there are cultural aspects as well. For example, there are probably some people here that, because of their religious beliefs, would not even allow the thought to enter their head that there is such a thing as "evolution". There are also some non-religious people who because of their non-religious beliefs would not allow the thougth to enter their head that there is such a thing as "God" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 (edited) The other point to make here is that in terms of evolutionary time scales, the difference between Serb and Chinese is VERY tiney compared to the difference between humanoid and fish.How lucky we are to be humans too bad for the fish Edited October 1, 2003 by Sasun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-=VAHE=- Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 Ignorance is bliss so I wish I was a Fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiner Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 Harut,Very good question!! It is obvious that some ethnicities are much more successful than others. Is it both nature and nurture, or just nurture? Nurture (the environment, surroundings) is definitely a factor. But is nature a factor (pure genetic makeup). It's not as obvious but I would say probably. Of course if this is the case, the differences are not gonna be radical, but they might just be significant enough to be noticed. I can definitely see the scenario. I know this is a taboo subject, and I don't mean to be foolishly stereotypical, but do blacks have an athletic advantage? Obviously. (I realize I'm not being politically correct but I really want to analyze this). They dominate every sport they get into, and they would dominate every other one if they were to get into it (including swimming, tennis, soccer, etc.). This is obviously due to genetic make up which manifests itself as a physical advantage. Could genetic make up also affect the brain, in such a way as to give a group a mental advantage over another? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THOTH Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 It is obvious that some ethnicities are much more successful than others. Is it both nature and nurture, or just nurture? I know this is a taboo subject, and I don't mean to be foolishly stereotypical, but do blacks have an athletic advantage? Obviously. (I realize I'm not being politically correct but I really want to analyze this). They dominate every sport they get into, and they would dominate every other one if they were to get into it (including swimming, tennis, soccer, etc.). This is obviously due to genetic make up which manifests itself as a physical advantage. Could genetic make up also affect the brain, in such a way as to give a group a mental advantage over another? Yes its both nature and nurture...and a recent study here in the US claims that for poor families nature is more determinisitc for IQ, while for richer families nurtutre (envirinment)...which makes sense if you think about it. Most poor folks are less educated and have less resources to provide an environment to give specific advantages...while the richer folk can apply their resources to enhance the learning environment (and those who do this more turn out smarter kids....then they would have been otherwise)..etc Intelligence though is a difficult thisn to really measure or compare however - as there are many aspects to it - and not all are easily quatinfiable. Some folks excelll in ceertain areas, others in other areas... And on your issues about Black folks dominating every sport etc - not just politicaly incorrect perha[ps - but incorect IMO. Again - there are differences among African peoples to consider as well - not all are gentically/physically etc the same...and while ist seems that there are some differences in body types (even sizes) etc among races - and this can account for some succes in certain sports (or limitiations) - again one must consider environment. Kenyans train for marathons at high altitudes and their training is rigourous etc. American Blacks are descended of slaves who survived extrmely harsh conditions - perhaps weeding out the less fit...there are all kinds of facotrs. And I don't really expect Africans or Blacks to be dominating swimming or skiing or such anytime soon - if ever...And agasin - its all not so simple... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellthecat Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 Ignorance is bliss so I wish I was a Fish But with the short memory span of fishes, they don't even know they are blissfully ignorant of the fact that they are ignorant. :) (Actually, new research shows that fish can actually have long memories, and can remember things from at least 6 months earlier.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 Can you imagine how exciting life would seem if you only had like a 30 second memory capacity? It sounds aweful to us but to be in that state would truelly be awesome I am picturing. You're bored? Just wait 30 seconds !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harut Posted October 2, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 have you seen the movie Memento? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 No but some dumbass brother of mine who shall remain nameless already revealed to me what happens in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 Can you imagine how exciting life would seem if you only had like a 30 second memory capacity? It sounds aweful to us but to be in that state would truelly be awesome I am picturing. You're bored? Just wait 30 seconds !!!! Actually if you believe in reincarnation we are having that exciting life. Only instead of 30 seconds we have more time. We don't remember anything from our past lives. Those lives were not significantly different than this one. We don't even remember much of this life. We just keep living and forgetting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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