tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post3623416462844432365..comments2024-03-28T18:32:05.933-04:00Comments on bensozia: Napoleon Chagnon and "Liberal McCarthyism"Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01037215533094998996noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-89566856181965706712016-02-03T16:09:18.647-05:002016-02-03T16:09:18.647-05:00Never heard of this Chagnon before, but I've a...Never heard of this Chagnon before, but I've already heard enough - he's no anthropologist.<br /><br />A biologist doesn't study biology by disrupting ecosystems. An economist doesn't study economics by disrupting markets. A psychologist doesn't study the mind by inflicting mental illness. A surgeon doesn't study human anatomy through vivisection. A fireman doesn't study firefighting by performing arson. A police officer doesn't study policing by cultivating crime.<br /><br />When you introduce destructive and harmful methodology into your supposed academic study, you cross a line.G. Verlorennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-35453679264925459322016-02-03T12:42:22.191-05:002016-02-03T12:42:22.191-05:00FWIW, as a card-carrying liberal academic, I'd...FWIW, as a card-carrying liberal academic, I'd say the essay isn't terribly nasty and actually seems pretty sensible. Mostly it's not about Chagnon, but about the blackballing of a book by a neuroscientist who claims to have identified common negative personality traits among welfare recipients. Whatever one thinks of this research, the essay author does seem to have a point about the blackballing of the book. I particularly like his denunciation of the sociologist who refused even to review it "on the grounds that any book linking benefit dependency to personality must be nonsense because personality is a ‘capitalist construct’."<br /><br />Based on what little I know, I don't much respect Chagnon and his approach of goading his subjects until they prove his point by acting out. But I suspect the attack on him may partake more of outraged Rousseauianism than you are allowing.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08993570411881726772noreply@blogger.com