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This kind of research does not have any practical application in a society where we treat each other as equals. Further, it's statistics, so there are outliers.

by readme 7y ago

This kind of research does not have any practical application in a society where we treat each other as equals. Further, it's statistics, so there are outliers. I am 100% certain that lots of the things that determine our lives are heritable, but that doesn't mean I think this kind of research is beneficial. Research should be aimed at improving the general state of humanity. We have already seen what this does. Why would anyone even give this stuff a chance?

tehjoker 7y ago
There is far too much friendliness to eugenics and phrenology, though usually not termed as such, in the academy. I saw a presentation where a student was using machine learning to predict intelligence from medical images AND a variety of demographic attributes attributes including sex. I didn't blame the student who seemed to just get assigned the project, but the professor who assigned it and guided it should know better. Scientists should avoid trying to "scientifically" ascertain peoples' place in the world based on inborn traits. Instead, the focus should be on helping people achieve what they want to achieve.
- shillremover 7y ago
  The job of a scientist is to study objective reality, not be a personal coach.
ls612 7y ago
Ignoring real patterns just because we don’t like their implications or fear people will use them for demagoguery doesn’t make them any less real. If things are heritable we should certainly catalog in a rigorous manner how they are heritable.
SamReidHughes 7y ago
It's kind of like pro golfers practicing 115 yard shots a lot, until they measured the stats and found their strokes gained is the same as all the other pros'. It does have applicability if you want to know things like what causes crime and how much, how much can we fix generational poverty with moar education, and will legalizing crack cause 50% of the population to get wiped out by addiction.

by readme 7y ago

tehjoker 7y ago

There is far too much friendliness to eugenics and phrenology, though usually not termed as such, in the academy. I saw a presentation where a student was using machine learning to predict intelligence from medical images AND a variety of demographic attributes attributes including sex. I didn't blame the student who seemed to just get assigned the project, but the professor who assigned it and guided it should know better. Scientists should avoid trying to "scientifically" ascertain peoples' place in the world based on inborn traits. Instead, the focus should be on helping people achieve what they want to achieve.

shillremover 7y ago
The job of a scientist is to study objective reality, not be a personal coach.

ls612 7y ago

Ignoring real patterns just because we don’t like their implications or fear people will use them for demagoguery doesn’t make them any less real. If things are heritable we should certainly catalog in a rigorous manner how they are heritable.

SamReidHughes 7y ago

It's kind of like pro golfers practicing 115 yard shots a lot, until they measured the stats and found their strokes gained is the same as all the other pros'. It does have applicability if you want to know things like what causes crime and how much, how much can we fix generational poverty with moar education, and will legalizing crack cause 50% of the population to get wiped out by addiction.