In this paper I will be arguing that racist beliefs are cognitive problems according to Appiah’s account of racisms. In order to defend this position, I will first explain Appiah’s account of how racism is heritable through genes, focusing specifically on what he thinks the connection between extrinsic racists and intrinsic racists are. Then, I will define what Appiah takes a extrinsic and intrinsic racists to be, and show how his definition of what an “insincere” extrinsic is distinctive by contrasting it with other ways one could interpret or define as an “insincere” racist. I will then present an objection that explains why I think that racialism is not heritable through genes and that an “insincere” extrinsic racist should not change their minds.
Appiah argues that racism is heritable through genes. Evidence of this can be found if we consider what he says about Hegel and the nineteenth-century Western world’s view on racism. Appiah claims that the “heritable characteristics, possessed by members of our species… share certain traits and tendencies with each other that they do not share with members of any other race. Theses traits and tendencies characteristic of race constitute, on the racialist view, a sort of racial essence.” This example explains that the becoming of racism was passed down through generation to generation and thus became the basis to be racists towards any individual race if they feel that specific race isn’t worthy. However, others may argue that racism isn’t all heritable because some people can just become racist due to situations they may have had. For example, when Muslims destroyed the twin towers, a lot of people were either scared or had hatred towards them, which is racist against Muslims even th...
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...acity is an excuse to get away with the way intrinsic and extrinsic racist treat others. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Suppose I am driving on a highway and I notice someone of a particular race that I didn’t “like” or that I felt superior to and I decided to run them off the road. I know what I’m doing and I feel that I’m right even though I have this “cognitive incapacity”, but do I really not know? I know Appiah would say that I would be an intrinsic racist and that my actions are irrational, but it seems that he may agree with me since he stated that “most people will want to object already that this discussion of the propositional content of racist moral and factual beliefs misses something…. from what I call a “cognitive incapacity.” Therefore, I believe Appiah would be able to respond to my argument that the “cognitive incapacity” is an excuse.
We are trained to think and perceive things the way they are presented to us as we grow up. Naturally, the ideologies we are taught at a young age generally stay with us until we are adults. As proof, C.P Ellis was taught at a young age that African Americans and Jewish people were to blame for his problem, or the problems of the poor whites in America. Psychologist Daryl Bem theory of self-perception delivered the attitude and emotional connections Ellis had to his behavior when being a Klans’ man. Also, Connors approach to acceptance, when moving past negative events in our lives.
Racism, a plague in our society that has infected our society, and still does today, has been rooted by the premise of Darwinian evolution. Racism existed long before Charles Darwin made his mark in history; however, in the book One Race One Blood, the authors explain how there is a very close relationship between the theory of evolution and what we know today as racism. The authors intent of this book is to realize the effects of a specific ideas that has shaped racism. Mr. Ken Ham describes ideas as being seeds, “…they might seem small; they might seem insignificant; they might even go unnoticed by all expect those who hold them in the moment…” (7). Charles Darwin’s idea (or seeds) of his evolutionary has taken root and made its way into public schools, the government, and even our churches. Although, racism did not originate with Darwin, Ken Ham claims that, “he did more than any other person to popularize it” (22). His evolutionary ideas have fueled racism and this is what racists use to justify their hatred toward those who are different from them (8).
In the article “The Good, Racist People” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, discusses an event which resulted in Forest Whitaker being accused of shoplifting. What could possibly be a reason to assume Whitaker, a famous actor, of shoplifted? From Coates’ point of view (along with many others) they want to believe that this encounter was a misunderstanding that had nothing to do with race. Whitaker was accused of shoplifting and then was frisked, based only on his appearance. Coates then goes on to claims that the owner’s apology argued that the incident was a “‘sincere mistake’ and how the worker was a ‘decent man’ who was ‘just doing his job’ ”. (par. 3) In this quote we see an excuse to justify this event. In which Coates want to believe the apology and
Racism is defined as the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others. Why feel superior if God created everyone equal and there is not one inferior. Over the history there has been many cases of racism. An example in history is Henrietta Lacks, her eyes still young and playful not knowing she had a cancerous tumor with a multimillion- dollar of immortal cells inside of her. She was one of many persons who experienced racism. The novel of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot addresses her life has an African American. The racism theme is prevalent in the novel and it shows the fact how African Americas were treated by white people.
Racism has existed through the world for centuries and has been the primary reason for numerous conflicts, wars and other human tragedies all over the planet. From 16th to 19th-century blacks were taken from their homes and families and taken for the slave trade. They were often overworked, beaten and killed. Being black was not the best thing you could be in 1950’s. Racism is not something that is inborn, it is what people created. In the article, “We’re all racist. But racism by white people matters more”, Mona Chalabi says “I don’t think white people are born with some sort of racism gene – the main thing that explains those different scores is the way that society has geared up our brains differently.” It is our society that is ignorant,
In a society where racial prejudice booms in politics, communities, and popular culture, it is difficult for racial minorities to avoid absorbing the racist messages that constantly bombard them. Internalized Racism does exist, if not, what would it be called for people that dislike their ethnicity? This type of racism are minority groups that loathe the physical characteristics that make them racially distinct such as skin color, hair texture or eye shape and buy into the belief that whites are superior Internalized racism will explore the reasons why some minority groups do not like their ethnicity; Internalized racism has hit the individual level where half of all Hispanics consider themselves as white. One Mexican American asserted that he felt “shame and sexual inferiority…because of my dark complexion.”
As human beings, each person might consider himself as unique because we have certain common yet very distinctive structures in our anatomy. The human physiology and basic anatomy are unchanging for all people. However, there are differences in color of the skin, appearance, adaptability, physical viability and many other factors. From generation to generation there is a transformation that shapes and changes all of our traits, and some of the characteristics are greatly influenced by variations in geography and also the environment. Humans have so many similarities, but not all individuals have respect and solidarity towards others. The idea behind this is the feeling that one is better than someone else solidly based on race, and this is what creates and enhances the idea of racism. The reason for choosing racism is to better understand the development of racism and the existing theories that have explained this issue. It is true that racism continues to persist in our current world even after so much research has been done and laws set to guard individuals from racism in all day-to-day sectors of life. With the introduction of modern technology and social media, people started to communicate more with each other and possibly understand other people's perspective. There are several theories that analyze racism.
Appiah claims that race does not exist. He uses scientific methods to prove that individuals from different groups of people have no greater genetic differences between them than the genetic differences in individuals from the same group of people. He writes: "…human genetic variability between the populations of Africa or Europe or Asia is not much greater than within those populations…" With This he is trying to demonstrate that if there is no biological difference between populations, except for those differences due to the habitat in which a certain population has lived for many years. Therefore he proves that there is no accurate meaning of the word race.
...r own unique ways.; however, the authors focus on different aspects of prejudice and racism, resulting in them communicating different ideas and thoughts that range from racial discrimination to stereotypical attitudes. The range of ideas attempt to engage the readers about the reality of their issues. The reality about a world where prejudice and racism still prevail in modern times. But when will prejudice and racism ever cease to exist? And if they were ever to cease from existence, what does that mean about humankind?
...Shelby argues that this belief is not a valid excuse for behaviors that ultimately propagate racist norms and institutions (480).
...The most profound conclusion on the concept of race is the argument that the term is not a biologically innate fixture. Despite the discredited nature of the concept of ‘race’, the idea stills “exerts a powerful influence in everyday language and ideology”. (Jary & Jary, 2000: pp503-4) This disputes the assumption that racial divisions reflect fundamental genetic differences.
Racism is based on the belief that one’s culture is superior to that of others, and this racial superiority provides justification for discrimination. Racism begins with categorising by race, and therefore stereotyping particular cultures. A simple definition of prejudice given by St Thomas Aquinas states prejudice as “thinking ill of others without sufficient cause” (1. pg 21). Racism is a major issue in today’s society, affecting a large number of the world’s population and causing political and social turmoil. To evaluate the true meaning, effects and views concerning racism in today’s world, a number of literature sources were researched including novel, films, short stories, poetry, song lyrics, textbooks and magazine articles.
This brings attention to why race and ethnicity exist so predominantly in society. There are a number of theories that observe why racism, prejudice, and discri...
Marks, John. "RacismEugenics, and the Burdens of History." personal.uncc,edu. Ix International Congress of Human Genetics, 20 Aug 1996. Web. 31 Jan 2014.
Many people, especially those associated with racist groups, find it necessary to put down other ethnic groups in an attempt to strengthen their own. This mode of thought and reasoning usually results in extreme hatred of other races and an overall sense of bigotry. Reasoning in this manner equates to many associated with racist groups. Pride in one 's race may eventually lead to covert racism thought.