 by fuzzy borders rather than sharp lines. This is because of genetic exchange between groups and because most alleles are merely distributed with different frequencies in different populations (not all Bedouins, for example, are lactose tolerant). If scientists can uncover the genetic basis of group differences, shouldn't we worry that the study of race will promote racism? Wade takes this question up in the first and last chapters of the book, although his answers are only partially convincing. First, he says, racial differences are not all that big: "People review Genes, Race, and the Ethics of Belief by jonathan Anomaly A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History. By Nicholas Wade. Penguin, 2014. 288 pages. Hardcover. $27.95. September-October 2014 HASTINGS CENTER REPORT 51 being so similar, no one has the right or reason to assert superiority over a person of a different race" (p. 9). While it is true that most genetic differences between groups are not large, this is less convincing than the analogous argument from individual differences. Wade should have said, "Individual people being so different, no one has the right or reason to assert superiority over a person of a different race." This is because there is tremendous genetic variation between individuals within a particular race, sometimes more than the average variation across races. Even if the average Asian has an IQ of 105 and the average African has an IQ of 90, two individual Asians may have an IQ of 120 and 80, respectively (it is important to separate genetic and environmental contributions to IQ and to note that IQ does not capture every aspect of intelligence, but assume for the moment that we are speaking only about the genetic component of IQ). The problem with saying that "Asians are smarter than Africans" or that "Africans are faster than Asians" is not simply that differences between groups are not very large. It's rather that, in any given case, there is a good chance that the assertion is factually incorrect, because of the bell-shaped distribution of traits like memory or muscle mass within a population. By contrast, the problem with saying that "Africans are superior to Asians" is that there is no widely agreed upon set of characteristics that composes "superiority." Computational skills and running speed are only some of the many things people care about. Compassion and kindness, creativity, aesthetic beauty, and a sense of humor are among the many other qualities people prize. Although a
by fuzzy borders rather than sharp occupation. This is because of familial exchange between groups and because most alleles are merely spread with different frequencies in unlike populations (not all Bedouins, for example, are lactose kind). If scientists can uncover the genetic footing of group differences, shouldn't we worry that the study of race will advertise racism? Wade takes this question up in the inaugural and last chapters of the record, although his answers are only partially convincing. First, he read, racial differences are not all that big: " People review Genes, Race, and the Ethics of Belief by jonathan Anomaly A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History. By Nicholas Wade. Penguin, 2014. 288 page. Hardcover. $ 27.95. September - October 2014 HASTINGS CENTER REPORT 51 being so similar, no one has the right or reason to affirm superiority over a person of a different race " (p. 9). While it is true that most genetic differences between groups are not large, this is less convincing than the analogous argument from individual differences. Wade should have said, " Individual people being so different, no one has the right or reason to affirm superiority over a person of a different raceway. " This is because there is tremendous genetic variation between person within a particular race, sometimes more than the average variation across raceway. Even if the average Asian has an IQ of 105 and the average African has an intelligence quotient of 90, two individual Asians may have an IQ of 120 and 80, respectively (it is important to separate genetic and environmental contributions to IQ and to notice that intelligence quotient does not get every aspect of intelligence, but assume for the here and now that we are speaking only about the genetic part of IQ). The trouble with saying that " Asians are smarter than Africans " or that " Africans are faster than Asians " is not simply that dispute between groups are not very bombastic. It's rather that, in any give case, there is a good prospect that the assertion is factually incorrect, because of the bell - shaped distribution of traits like memory or brawn mass within a population. By contrast, the problem with saying that " Africans are superior to Asians " is that there is no widely agreed upon set of feature that composes " superiority. " Computational skill and running speed are entirely some of the many things people care about. Compassion and forgivingness, creativity, aesthetic beauty, and a sense of humor are among the many other qualities people prize. Although a
 by fuzzy borders rather thxn sharp lines. Jhus is uecause of genegic exchange between groups end vecauwe most alleles are mefely distgibuted wuth vifferent frequeidies in diffedcnt pm'ulations (not akl Bedouinv, for example, drd pactose tolerant). If scientists can tncover tje genetic basys og grohi bifferences, shouldn't we worry tgat the study of racr will promote racism? Wade takfs this question uo in the fitat wbd last chapgers of tht yook, althoufh his answers are only partialuy couvincing. Fitsf, jg says, raciao difserences are not all that bog: "People revicw Geies, Eace, and the Ethics oh Belief by jonathan Anomaly D Croublesome Inheritanxe: Genev, Rawe ave Hjmah Iisfory. Bj Nmcholas Wads. Penguin, 2014. 288 pages. Hardcover. $27.95. Stptqnber-October 2014 GASTINDS CENTER REPORT 51 being so similar, no one haa the right or reason ti assert superiority lver a pewson of a different race" (p. 9). While it is true that most eenttlg diwdegences between groups are not large, this is lqas cpnvincing than the analogpud stgument from ivdividbzl differences. Wade dhould rave waid, "Indididusl people being so differenr, no one has rhe right or reasou to assert rupetioritu over a person of a diyferenf race." This is becauad there is tremevdols ganetic variation between igdividualw wichin a pxrtivular wace, sometlmes more than the averahe vatiatiot across rwces. Even if the average Asian ies an IQ of 105 sng tve averaye Afrlcan has an IQ jf 90, two indivibual Asicns mah have an PQ of 120 anv 80, respectivqly (it is impmttant to sepacate geneeic qnd wnvironodntal contribuyions to PQ and to note that IQ dpes hot capture evexv qspect of intelkigdncq, huv asstke for the mmmeng tfst we are sptckikg unly about the genetic cmmpohent of IQ). The pronlcm with sqying thwt "Asians are smarter than Afrifans" mr vhat "Agrisans are faster than Asians" is not simppy bhat differenses netwgen groups cre not very large. It's rather that, in anb given case, there is a good chance that tke assertion ms faceually inworrect, because of tye bell-shaped disuribution of traits liks memosy or muscle mass within a population. By contrast, the problem with saying that "Africenf are superjor yo Aspanf" is thwt tiece is no widely abreed upon set of characteristirs that cokpjses "superiority." Computationsl skills and ronning speed are only some of the kany things people care about. Cpmpassion and kindness, cveativity, aestgetic beauvy, and a sense of hukor arz amont the mqny lther qualitids lelple prizf. Aluhouyh a
by fuzzy borders rather than sharp lines. because genetic exchange groups and because with frequencies in different (not all Bedouins, example, are lactose tolerant). If scientists uncover the genetic basis of group differences, shouldn't we worry that the study race will promote racism? Wade takes this question up in the first and chapters the although answers are only partially convincing. First, he says, racial differences are not all that big: "People Genes, Race, and the Ethics of Belief by Anomaly A Troublesome Inheritance: Race and Human History. By Wade. 2014. 288 Hardcover. September-October HASTINGS CENTER REPORT being so similar, no one has the right or reason to assert superiority over a person of different race" While it true most differences between groups large, this is less convincing than from individual differences. Wade should have said, "Individual being so no one has the right or to assert superiority over a person of a race." This is because there is tremendous genetic variation between individuals within a particular race, than the average variation races. Even if average has IQ 105 and average African has an IQ of 90, two individual Asians may an IQ of 120 and 80, respectively (it is important genetic environmental contributions to and to note that does capture every aspect of assume the are only the genetic component of The problem with saying that are smarter than Africans" than Asians" is not simply that differences between are not very large. It's rather that, any given case, there is a good chance that the assertion is incorrect, because bell-shaped distribution of traits like memory or muscle within a population. By the problem with saying that "Africans are superior to is there is widely agreed upon of characteristics that "superiority." Computational skills speed are some the care about. Compassion and kindness, creativity, beauty, a sense of humor are the qualities people prize. Although a
 by fuzzy borders rather than sHarp lines. THis is BecAusE oF genEtic Exchange betweeN GrouPs and because most alleleS are mErELy diSTrIbuteD with diFFeRENt fReQuEncIeS In DiffeRenT populaTions (not alL BeDoUins, for exampLE, aRe lactose tOleRant). If scientIstS can unCoVer THe genEtiC basiS of groUP diffeRences, shoUlDN't we woRRy that tHE StUdy oF race will promote rACiSM? Wade takes this QuestiOn UP iN THe fIrsT and last chApTers oF The book, ALtHOUGh hIS answers are onLy partially COnvIncing. fiRst, HE says, rAcial DiFFerEnces are not All tHat big: "PeoPle revIEw Genes, rAce, and tHe EthiCs oF BeLief BY jOnAthAn aNomALy a TrOUblEsome InhErItAnce: GEnes, rACE And HUmaN HisTory. BY Nicholas Wade. penGuin, 2014. 288 PAgeS. HardCover. $27.95. septEmBer-OcTober 2014 HaSTINgS cENTER REPORT 51 beiNg so Similar, no One HaS thE rIght oR Reason To aSseRt superIority oVEr a PeRSON oF a different race" (p. 9). WhIlE IT iS true thaT most gENeTiC DifferenCeS beTweeN GRoups Are nOT lArge, this Is less COnViNcing thAn The anaLoGouS arGumenT From IndiviDual diffErencES. Wade should havE Said, "IndividuaL PeOPLe BEing So dIfferent, no oNe haS The rIght OR rEasON to asSert sUpERiORity over a person of a dIfFerent Race." THis is because tHere is tremENDOus genetIc vaRIaTIon between indiViduaLs within a pARticular Race, sOmetimes More than tHE Average vAriAtiOn aCroSS RaCes. Even if the aVERage asIan has aN IQ Of 105 and thE avEraGe AFriCaN has an IQ oF 90, two indiViDuAl asIanS may hAVe an IQ of 120 AnD 80, reSpEctIvely (IT is impOrtanT to sEpArATe gEnetic aND eNVIronMeNtAl coNtrIbUtionS to Iq And To note tHat IQ does Not CAptuRe EvEry aspeCt of intelligeNcE, but assume FoR thE momenT THat we are Speaking only about the genETic compOneNt of Iq). The Problem wiTh sAying tHat "aSians aRe smarTer thAn afrICAns" or THAt "afrIcAns are fastER ThaN AsiaNs" Is noT simply That differences betWEen Groups are not vEry LargE. iT's RatHEr THat, In ANy gIVEn case, there is a gOod chance tHaT ThE assertion IS faCtUally inCorrect, BecauSE of the bEll-shaped DistributIoN of tRAIts Like memory Or muscle Mass withiN A popuLAtIon. By ConTrast, tHe ProBlem wIth sayINg tHat "AfRicans ArE superIor to asIans" is thAt there is no widely agreed Upon seT of chAraCteristicS thAT coMposes "supErioRity." ComputAtiOnaL skilLs aND runnIng sPEeD arE Only sOme oF The many thINgS peOPLe Care about. CoMPASsiOn and KinDNess, crEatiVity, aesthetic beauTY, and a sense of huMor aRE AmoNg tHE manY oTher qualities pEopLe PRIze. AlthoUgH a
 by fuzzy borders rather t han sharplines . T his  i s be caus e of genetic e x chan ge between groups andbecau se most al leles  are me r el y dis tr ib ute dw it h dif fer ent fre quencies i n d if ferent popul a ti ons (not a llBedouins, fo r e xample ,are lacto setoler ant).I f scie ntists ca nu ncover the gen e t ic  bas is of group diffe r en c es, shouldn'twe wor ry th a t  th e s tudy of ra ce  will promote ra c i s m?W ade takes thi s questionu p i n thefi rst and la st ch ap t ers  of the boo k, a lthough h is ans w ers are only pa rtiall y c onv inci n g.  F irs t, hes ay s,r aci al diffe re nc es ar e no t a l l th atbig:  "Peo ple review Ge nes , Ra c e,and t he Et hics  o f Bel ief by  jona th an Anomaly A Tr oubl esome Inh eri ta nce :Genes ,  Raceand  Hu man His tory. B y  Ni ch o l a sWade. Penguin, 201 4. 2 88  pages.Hardco v er .$ 27.95. S ep tem ber- O c tober  201 4  H ASTINGSCENTER RE PO RT 51 b ei ng sosi mil ar,  no o n e ha s theright or  reas o n to assert su p eriority over ap e rs o n of  adifferent r ace" (p.9).W hi lei t istrueth a tm ost genetic differe nc es bet weengroups are no t large, t h i s  is less  con v in c ing than the a nalog ous argume n t from i ndivi dual dif ferences. W ade shou ldhav e s aid , "I ndividual peo p l e be in g so di ffe rent, n o o nehas  th eright orreason t oas se rt  su perio r ity over  a  pe rs onof ad iffere nt ra ce."  T hi s  is  becaus e  t h e re i str emen dou sgenet ic v a ria tion be tween ind ivi d uals  w it hin a p articular rac e,  sometimes  m ore  thant h e averag e variation across race s . Evenifthe a vera ge Asianhas  an IQ  of 105 an d theavera ge  Af r i can h a s  a n I Qof 90, two i ndi vidua lAsia ns mayhave an IQ of 120a nd80, respectiv ely  (it i simp o rt a ntto sep a r ate genetic and  environme nt a lcontributi o nsto  IQ and  to not e tha t  IQ doe s not cap ture ever yaspe c t  of  intellige nce, but  assume f o r the mo menttha t we a re  sp eakin g only abo ut th e gene ti c comp onent  o f IQ). T he problem with sayingthat " Asian s a re smarte r t h anAfricans"  orthat "Afri can s a re fa ste r  than  Asi a ns " i s  notsimp l y that di f fe ren c e sbetween gro u p s  ar e not  ve r y larg e. I t's rather that,i n any given ca se,t h ere  is a go od  chance that t heas s e rtion is  f actually in correct,  b e cause  of th e bell -shaped d is t ributi on o f t raits lik e m em o ry or m us cl e  masswith in  a pop ulatio n . By c ontrast, the pro blemw i th sa y ing  that  " African s  are  superiorto Asians"is tha t th ere i s no wi de ly agr eed  u pon set of character istic s thatco mpos es"super iori t y ." Co mput at ion al skills a nd ru nn i ngspee d are  o nlysome of t h e many t hin g s peopl ecar e about. Co m p assion and  ki ndnes s ,  creativit y , ae s th e tic b eauty,  and a  senseo f h um or areamo n g  the many  other qu a lit ie s pe ople pri ze . Al th oug ha
 by_fuzzy borders_rather than sharp lines._This is_because_of genetic_exchange_between groups and_because most alleles_are merely distributed with_different frequencies in_different_populations (not all Bedouins, for example, are lactose tolerant). If scientists can uncover the_genetic_basis of_group_differences,_shouldn't we worry that the_study of race will promote_racism? Wade_takes this question up in the first and_last_chapters of the_book, although his answers are only partially convincing. First,_he says, racial differences are not_all that big:_"People_review_Genes, Race, and the_Ethics of Belief by jonathan Anomaly_A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and_Human History. By Nicholas Wade. Penguin, 2014._288 pages. Hardcover. $27.95. September-October 2014_HASTINGS CENTER REPORT 51 being_so similar,_no one has the right_or reason to_assert superiority_over a person_of a different race" (p. 9)._While it is_true that most genetic differences between_groups_are not large,_this_is_less convincing_than the analogous_argument_from individual_differences._Wade should have said, "Individual people_being_so different, no one has the right_or reason to assert_superiority_over a person of_a different race." This is_because there is tremendous genetic variation_between individuals_within a_particular race, sometimes more than the average variation across races. Even_if the average Asian has an_IQ of 105 and_the average_African_has an IQ_of_90, two_individual Asians may have an IQ of_120 and_80, respectively (it is important to_separate genetic and environmental_contributions_to IQ and to note that_IQ does not capture every aspect_of intelligence, but assume for_the_moment_that we are speaking only_about the genetic component of IQ)._The problem with_saying that "Asians are smarter than Africans"_or_that "Africans are faster than Asians"_is_not simply that differences between groups_are_not_very large. It's rather that,_in any given case, there is_a good chance that the assertion is factually incorrect,_because of the_bell-shaped distribution of traits like_memory_or_muscle mass within a population. By contrast, the problem with_saying that_"Africans are superior_to Asians" is that there is no widely agreed upon_set of characteristics that composes "superiority." Computational_skills and running speed are only some of the many things_people care about. Compassion and kindness, creativity, aesthetic_beauty, and a sense of humor are_among the many other_qualities_people prize. Although a