Uncovering the Impact of DNA on Social Equality: A Look at the Genetic Lottery

SLC: The Genetic Lottery is an ambitious, fully realized argument to change the zeitgeist about how we think about (or don’t think about) the role of genetics in people’s place and access to resources and opportunities in society. Harden points out that, currently, two views dominate the discussion. One is an updated form of eugenic thinking that genes are the determiner of inequalities and cannot be meaningfully altered. The other is that genetic influences are minimal and any discussion of them is dangerous. Social equality demands that we assume that they don’t matter and we should act accordingly. Harden makes the point that both of these views are not just wrong, but preventing any progress we as a society could make if we moved to a more sophisticated and nuanced view of what behavior genetics can and cannot tell us. She lays out her argument in her book in several phases. First, she summarizes the current state of research in behavior genetics, explaining current methods and what they can and cannot tell us. Then she traces the development of societal views of genetics from Galton through eugenics, publication of The Bell Curve, and up to current times. Finally, she...

United States on Sep 16, 2023

Steve Ceresnie: Over the years, I would tell my two daughters that half of my genetics is half of their genetics – but we don’t know which half. My daughters always felt I took genetics too seriously when trying to explain personality, mental maladies, academic achievement, and more. Kathryn Paige Harden, a Professor of Psychology at University of Texas at Austin in her elegant book takes genetics and equality seriously. Her progressive politics informs her exploration of heredity and egalitarianism. Harden states that, “the widespread tendency to ignore the existence of genetic differences between people has hobbled scientific progress in psychology, education, and other areas of social science. She adds, “Genetic differences between us matter for our lives. They cause differences in things we care about. Building a commitment to egalitarianism on our genetic uniformity is building a house of sand.”

She is part of a growing group of like-minded social science researchers who take their deep knowledge of the tools of genetics she discusses in depth to further educational and economic egalitarianism. She agrees with the statement that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not....

United States on Aug 29, 2022

PS: This book is wide-ranging, but always accurate.
The author consistently undoes the frequent conflation of empirical and moral claims.
She clearly explains the genetics. The political philosophy is spot-on. The criticism of social-science research that ignores genetics is penetrating. The policy suggestions are well-informed and practicable.
Altogether, a very impressive book that deserves to be widely read.

United Kingdom on Jul 22, 2022

apas: It's very interesting. It should be widely read.

Italy on Apr 25, 2022

Nani: The widespread use of genetic correlation/causation with life dynamics could help solving many conundrums of psichology, which experiments are largely funded frequently without significant improvements.

United Kingdom on Mar 10, 2022

Walter Kraus: This book is more like a political statement than an informational book. I got the impression that facts are bend to fit into the authors political beliefs.

Not really to recommend.

Germany on Jan 22, 2022

John.P.M: Required reading for those who want a fairer and more just society, genes and destiny is something that will matter more and more in our future society's, this fascinating and easily accessible book gives you the basic knowledge to have an informed opinion on this subject. One of those books I hated finishing. Highly recommended.

United Kingdom on Oct 22, 2021

Chris: The author, a prominent behavioral geneticist at the University of Texas-Austin, argues that (i) the left must accept the science of behavioral genetics and (ii) the left should not fear this science, because it is not in conflict with leftist policy goals.

The author should be praised for trying to get her political comrades to accept science. Political debates should be based on values, not facts (one cannot really debate facts, as they exist regardless of whether or not one believes in them).

However, the author goes overboard in criticizing those who believe that behavioral genetics supports right-wing policies (whom she terms "eugenicists"). She argues that such "eugenicists" don't believe that human behavior, especially intelligence, can be changed. This is over broad-- everyone agrees that the last 250 years have seen enormous positive changes in human development (particularly in the West and East Asia). And the Flynn effect shows that intelligence can rapidly improve due to non-genetic reasons. But the problem is that these changes are based on large-scale, largely unplanned developments. There was no "policy" that put in place the Scientific and Industrial...

United States on Oct 10, 2021