Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Idea that races reflect inherent biological differences between social groups has been prominent aspect of European and American thought since at least Enlightenment. While there have been moments of refuting this way of thinking—most notably, social constructionist thesis emerging as dominant framework in aftermath of WWII—fixed biological conceptions of race haunt contemporary bio-medical research, where race continues to be measured at nearly every scale of human biology: from molecules up to intelligence and health. Exploration of reasons for this persistence through engagement with theory and in-depth analysis of biological research. Close attention to relationship between developments within American history and production of scientific knowledge about race; for it is in this relationship that perils and promise of science reveal themselves. P/NP or letter grading.
