DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972 | 1972-04-10 Daily Iowan Article: 'Prof: Herrnstein unscientific'

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Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972

1972-04-10 Daily Iowan Article: 'Prof: Herrnstein unscientific'

4/10/72
DI

Prof: Herrnstein unscientific

Harvard Prof. Richard J. Herrnstein's article on heredity and intelligence is not scientific, but political, according to a University of Iowa professor.
David C. Ranney, associate professor of urban and regional planning, told a symposium audience Friday night that although Herrnestein said that the article in the September 1971 Atlantic is scientific, the introduction to the article clearly points out the political importance of Herrnstein's conclusions. 
"The implication is that the article contains sad truths that must be handled with public policy." Ranny said.
"This article and others like it say that the problem lies with the poor and not with social institutions.
"It's blaming the victim of oppression for his oppression," Ranney said. 
Also speaking at the panel discussion on Herrnstein's article, was UI Prof. Lowell A. Schoer. education, who said that although "I don't get uncomfortable with the general issue of heredity, i do get uncomfortable when someone claims that the difference between groups is due to heredity."
Schoer also said that Herrnstein should have more narrowly defined intelligence because the average reader will assume more than just the scientific meaning of the word. 
He added that there is no way to make a "culture-free" test of intelligence. 
The Herrnestein symposium, sponsored by the Student Development Center, Campus Ministers and the Iowa City Peace Office, also featured Roger D. Milkman, professor of zoology; Jacob O, Sines, professor of psychology, and Carolyn Kerfoot, graduate student in nursing.

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4/10/72 DI Prof: Herrnstein unscientific Harvard Prof. Richard J. Herrnstein's article on heredity and intelligence is not scientific, but political, according to a University of Iowa professor. David C. Ranney, associate professor of urban and regional planning, told a symposium audience Friday night that although Herrnestein said that the article in the September 1971 Atlantic is scientific, the introduction to the article clearly points out the political importance of Herrnstein's conclusions. "The implication is that the article contains sad truths that must be handled with public policy." Ranny said. "This article and others like it say that the problem lies with the poor and not with social institutions. "It's blaming the victim of oppression for his oppression," Ranney said. Also speaking at the panel discussion on Herrnstein's article, was UI Prof. Lowell A. Schoer. education, who said that although "I don't get uncomfortable with the general issue of heredity, i do get uncomfortable when someone claims that the difference between groups is due to heredity." Schoer also said that Herrnstein should have more narrowly defined intelligence because the average reader will assume more than just the scientific meaning of the word. He added that there is no way to make a "culture-free" test of intelligence. The Herrnestein symposium, sponsored by the Student Development Center, Campus Ministers and the Iowa City Peace Office, also featured Roger D. Milkman, professor of zoology; Jacob O, Sines, professor of psychology, and Carolyn Kerfoot, graduate student in nursing.