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1. According to the author of the article "All in the
Genes?", there is no intrinsic causality between genetics and intelligence. The
author analyses different aspects of biological determinism, and supplies many examples,
which illustrate aspects of this problem that are being discussed since the time when
these ideas became popular. He does not agree with biological determinist that the
intellectual performance of a person depends on genes inherited from his parents. There
are a lot of different theories about intellectual capabilities. All these theories
reflect different points of views, depending on the period of time the authors of these
theories lived.
The author argues for the theory that in the nineteenth century ,
artificial barriers in social hierarchy prevented people from achieving higher
intellectual performance. In the end of XX century, in most places these barriers were
removed by the democratic processes, and nothing artificial can stand between the natural
sorting process and social status of the people. These changes can not be considered as
historical because the age of democracy is just two hundred years , and the time when
inequality between classes and between people was a natural situation is almost as long as
the history of the world .
The author insists that there is no connection between environmental
differences and genetics. In support of his idea the author state that any Canadian
student can perform better in mathematics than some ancient professors of mathematics. The
author comes to the conclusion that changes in a cultural environment are the main factor
that determines level of intellectual performance, not inherited combination of
parents genes . He argues that genetic differences that appear in one environment
may easily disappear in another. A theory that twins were raised in different social
conditions will have the same level of intellectual performance because identical genetics
constitution was used by the ideologist of biological determinism. The author rejects this
theory because from his point of view, all these cases cannot be considered as always
reliable on a close look, in most cases, twins were raised by the members of the same
family or in other words, not in a diametrical opposite level of society. The author
believes that there is no convincing measure of the role of genes in influencing human
behavioural variation.
During the argumentation of questions of biological determinism, the
author supports his idea with numerous examples. He gives examples of supporters of bio
determinism and outlines that these examples are not reliable. One of the fallacies of
biological determinism is the result of IQ testing. According to some scientist only 20%
of performance depend on environment and other 80% depend on genetic variations. The
author state that this is completely fallacious because there is no connection between the
variation that can be ascribed as genetic differences and whether an IQ performance was
affected by environment and by how much. IQ measures little more than a person s
ability to take a test. Scores increase dramatically as a person is trained or
familiarised with a test. It means that an IQ level does not depend on the intellectual
abilities of parents but on the manner of studying and preparation that can be considered
as environmental changes.
For the author, there is a casual relationship between genetic and
environmental differences. He gives us an example of a fruitflies with more bristles under
the wing on the left side than on the right side. He says that these differences are
caused by random chances of cell during growth and development and that every organism is
a unique combination of genes and environmental random chances. Another fallacy can be
illustrated by the statement provided by the author, which is built on the ideology of
biological determinism: ". . . if most of the variation in, say, intelligence among
individuals is a consequence of variation among their genes, then manipulating the
environment will not make much differences". The author argues that the proportion of
variation in genes is not fixed properly, but one that varies from environment to
environment. So, the author of the article provides many examples and rejects the fact
that the intelligence is only affected by genes.
2. We can characterises the ideology of biological determinism as an
explanation of social, cultural and physical inadequacy among people based on their inborn
biological differences, which are passed along from parents to children. Scientists who
support the theory of biological determinism insist that all people differ in their
fundamental abilities because of some innate differences, such as genetic constitution.
This ideology of genetic inequality states that there is a bridge between racial genetic
constitution and the size of the brain. Many scientists believe that the evaluations of
people's brain sizes correspond to a person's intellectual ability. Samples of skulls from
around the world confirmed Western European supremacy. The "scientists" in
pursuit of studies such as biological determinism always failed to clarify how typical
these skulls were of their respective populations. Simple selection of skulls easily
biased results, without a scientist necessarily realising his own subjectivity. The theory
of biological determinism appeared primarily to legitimate forms of social inadequacy and
control. Such ideas were the product of industrial revolution, as well as cultural and
ideological.
Some ideologies of biological determinism assert that sophisticated
behaviour is not taught, but develops automatically. There is a difference between mankind
and animals behaviour. For example, child learns how to speak his first words under
the influence of the parents or relatives, but a child who is raised in an isolated
environment cannot communicate in a normal way. We can conclude from this example that a
child begins to speak not because of genetic variations of his or her parents, but because
of the environment he is located in. History knows the cases when a child was raised among
animals, but his humans inherited genetic constitution did not influence his
intellectual performance.
The fact that so many oriental children do well seems to be more of a
nurture/environmental reason rather than a nature/genetic reason. Their parents may have
come from villages with little or no chance of an education. When they migrate to the
West, many, as a result of conflict such as the Vietnam war, brought their ideologies with
them. But they may not have the higher intelligence as an innate ability, so therefore
neither would their children. This is an example to show that in some cases nature can
affect the way nurture rules your life, and it is completely controverts the ideology of
biological determinism.
Another authors example that contradicts the theory of biological
determinism is Wilsons disease, which causes suffering from inability of detoxify to
cooper, which is an example of a genetic disorder. A few centuries ago people with such
behaviour could not be considered fully functional. However, because of achievements of
modern medicine, a treatment for these genetic disorders was found, and just by taking a
pill, such a genetic disorder can be eliminated. Today we do not accept people with
genetic inability because these people are different from us, but tomorrow they will be
full members of our society.
3. From my point of view, biological determinism does not have a direct
bridge to social inequality and political control. In my opinion, intelligence is shaped
by a mixture of genes and environmental influence. The question, is whether all people
have approximately the same capacity to think and to work. But it is not appropriate
question to ask. The question should be, whether all people are motivated by the same
things? Given the cases consider, the answer is "no". This is an important
distinction. Every one of us has different surroundings which in one way or another shapes
our perceptions of social reality. Rules of the society where we live can tell each of us
to act a given way in certain situations. Our nature is our genetic endowment. It
determines our basic physical appearance: our hair and eye colour, etc. It determines the
types of emotions and motivations we can experience. We have different inner responses to
different environments. However, our genes depend on the environment to fill in the
missing details. So, if we are genetically predisposed to become agitated in a crowded
setting, but we never experience such an environment, we will not have this genetic
behaviour. We cannot tell whether that people in our society are distinct from each other
because of those unexpressed innate differences. No two people are motivated by the same
experience; thats why we are so different. There is no doubt that our achievements
in a society are predominated by our own contribution to any business and how much effort
we put to it. It requires 100 % contribution in order to achieve the deserved result. In
every layer of society we can encounter cases when individuals are raised above the
average because of the level of their intellectual ability, but not because their parents
were rich and famous.
One historical example that contradicts the theory of biological
determinism is a the world famous scientist Albert Einstein. Jewish immigrant from
Germany, he was not rich, his parents were not professors or politicians. Because of his
significant intellectual power, he became famous all around the world. And even after his
death, his brain was taken by a scientist who tried to figure out what was the difference
between him and the rest of us. Nothing unusual in his brain was found. This specific
example contradicts the theory of biological determinism. Einsteins innate
capacities were not transmitted from generation to generation biologically. Thus is his
efforts made him famous and acceptable through the world. Thus is his contribution to
science could give him a control and a power, if he desired it.
Yes, Einstein was in some way different from others. What can it be? If
we assume that all individuals were raised in the same environmental condition, such as
family, school and neighbourhood, than the differences between them and others can be
explained by the genetic constitution, but it still does not mean that this genetic
constitution was 100% inherited from their parents. From my point of view, these genetic
differences can be explained only by the random combination of genes. I think it can not
be explained by any logical way or by genetic science but only as a result of play of
nature . The best proof of this idea can be that after all of successes in the field of
genetic science, there is still no any remedies that can let to produce smart children.
Another example that contradicts a theory of biological determinism, that we do not live
by our natural, instinctual, primitive way because we do not live, as primitive animals do
in nature. Civilisation is a subversion of nature.
In a global contest there is a huge amount of examples when people whose parents did not
have any money or power, achieved the higher level of power. For example Napoleon, a son
of the ordinary people, citizen of Corsica, just with the help of his intellectual power
he became the first person in the France. He did not inherit any imperious qualities from
his parents, but he manages to become an imperator. We can say that his existence causes
the death and starvation of millions people during the wars that he had. What can be the
best proof of the power when persons desire for control decides for people to die or
to live?
History knows an example where it is not innate abilities bring people
to the power and control. A monster of the 20th century came to the power that responsible
for the World War II. Anything is known about Hitlers sadistic behaviour or harmful
acts in his childhood. Hitlers hate came from the fact that he was an outsider who
did not belong anywhere, who never found a safe and secure place in a society. The
environment he lived in, the unfairness of German society, the crisis in his family made
him mad and furious This is an influence of a society made him a bloody criminal of the
20th century. Hitlers remarkable power as a speaker and the will to the revenge made
him a very good orator that helped him to lead the masses. Hitler and Napoleon had inner
responses in different ways to different environment. No one can assume that a hunger for
a domination and an authority came to them with their mothers blood. Therefore,
there is no bridge between biological determinism of innate capacities and a desire of
people with a power to invade and kill the innocent population. Our genes encode only what
they need to, to conserve genetic material. The rest of the detail is left for the
environment to fill in.
4. For thousands of years humans ask the question of their
"human" nature. They have attempted to find themselves in relation to the animal
kingdom.
The quest for knowledge is universal in Frankenstein: It is well-known that the scientific
revolution of 17th centuries initiated a profound intellectual upheaval in western thought
that replaced the philosophical universe of Aristotle and the Middle Ages with the new
infinitary and mechanistic universe of Copernican astronomy and Galilean-Newtonian
physics. And this new mechanistic universe dominated western thought until the early years
of the 20th century-shaping almost all aspects of the further development of western
culture and setting the stage, for the revolutionary scientific developments of the
present century.
The scientific revolution that resulted in the new mechanistic universe of Copernicus,
Galileo, and Newton also resulted in an equally profound upheaval in the development of
western medicine. In Science and Literature in the Nineteenth Century Mary Shelley's theme
of scientific interference with the fundamental mysteries of life makes Frankenstein the
prototype of numerous works of science fiction. She creates the typical representative of
her time. Frankenstein is a great medical scholar, exaggeration of Shelleys simple
student. A "Frankenstein Effect," the suite of moral and ethical problems
encountered when man tries to improve our nature.
The monster, being a sort of matter duplication of Victor, has a physical and psychic link
with his creator. If the monster is wounded, Victor also gets the same wound.
This transforms the story from its usual allegory of the relationship of God and Man to
one of the two sides of a single person's personality.
I do think that Frankensteins monster can be considered as a product of theory of
biological determinism. Biological determinism states that intellectual abilities are
enclosed in us by genes inherited from parents.
The main idea of Victor Frankenstein, was a creation of some kind of machine or robot,
which, like we assume, does not have any genes background and therefore, according to the
theory of biological determinism, does not have any intellectual future. Despite this
assumption, a monster begins to show the sign of the intellect, he tries to get
knowledges, and it means that something going on with him. This something changes his
intellectual structure, shifting him from the animal state to the human being. If we
follow the ideas of biological determinism, it should be nonsense: Monster does not have
any intellectual background. He does not even have parents.
But in fact, happened something opposite, according to the book, the monster very much
wants to stimulate his intellect and has a great desire for knowledge. He eagerly listens
the humans' discussion and teachings and he revels in finding some books: ''The possession
of these treasures gave me extreme delight; I now continually studied and exercised my
mind upon these histories. Just like his creator at the beginning of the narrative, he is
thirsty for knowledge and reads everything that he can lay his hands on.
The artificial man is put in a number of situations where one would
expect a human being to react in one way and a machine or construct in another . The
monster that Frankenstein creates has all of human society against him from the start. Wee
see Shellys intentions to show that monster and his behaviour reflect the image of
our society, where humans are not very kind to each other and not to mention how they
treat somebody who is not human or looks repulsive. The monster or the people that he
tries to be friend with and who consistently refuse his offers of friendship on the basis
of his appearance. We see the authors intentions to show comparisons between the
monster and other people. She illustrates the presence of humans characteristics
that are traditionally thought to be defining characteristics for a monster.
The monster did very human thing when he risked his own life and saved
a young girl who has fallen into a rapid river. We see than a monster has very negative
impression about a society he meets, but despite of that, he has very good intentions to
contact a human race. However, the influence of a society makes him depressed and
dissatisfied with his life situation. "The feelings of kindness and gentleness which
I had entertained but a few moments before gave place to hellish rage and gnashing of
teeth. Inflamed by pain, I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind.'' Having
come this far, one might be forgiven for wondering which is the most ''human'' the monster
or the people that he tries to be friend and who consistently refuse his offers of
friendship solely on the basis of his appearance. Therefore, from authors intentions
and Frankenstein motivations we can tell that the monster is a by-product of the theory of
biological determinism.
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