Hereditarianism (Noun)
Meaning
The philosophical doctrine that heredity is more important than environment in determining intellectual growth.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- Hereditarianism has been associated with racist and sexist ideologies that attribute intellectual inferiority to certain groups.
- Some critics argue that the conclusions drawn by hereditarians about the relative importance of heredity versus environment are based on flawed science.
- Proponents of hereditarianism argue that intelligence and personality are largely determined by genetics, while environmental factors play a minor role.
- Hereditarianism has been criticized for ignoring the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors that shape human development.
- Charles Murray's book The Bell Curve has been widely criticized for its perceived endorsement of hereditarianism and its alleged racist implications.