The Methodology of Discrimination Development and Theory of Scientific Racism in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Date of Award
2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
Second Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Harvey, David
Keywords
Scientific Raciam, Biological Determinism, Anti-Semitism, Indian Removal, History of Science
Area of Concentration
History
Abstract
Scientific study of race and racial differences reached their peak during the 19th century. This thesis focuses on the methodology and development of that research, and the ways in which social, economic and political factors at work during the 18th and 19th centuries influenced the progress of scientific thought in relation to the supposed relative worth of individual ethnic groups. This thesis aims to evaluate how scientific researchers of the period developed hierarchies detailing their views on innate, inherent worth of non-European ethnic groups. These theories are known as biological determinism, or scientific racism. They represent a new manifestation of earlier European prejudices, which had previously been justified by rhetoric of religious or cultural superiority. As the influence of Enlightenment era thought delegitimized religious intolerance as a valid basis for persecution of certain groups, scientific racism theorists provided a new and more nefarious paradigm under which those non-European religious groups could continue to face bias. This was European Jews. Likewise, as certain non-European ethnic the American Cherokee Nation, developed European and practices, their supposed cultural inferiority no longer provided basis for discrimination. Biological determinism, however, overcome. This thesis examines how such theories could develop, why they're flawed science was so widely accepted.
Recommended Citation
Gordon, Paule Sarah, "The Methodology of Discrimination Development and Theory of Scientific Racism in the 18th and 19th Centuries" (2007). Theses & ETDs. 3789.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3789
Rights
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