Overview
- This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access
- Examines the arguments and legacy of controversial social science book ‘The Bell Curve’
- Analyses Herrnstein’s concept of the “meritocracy” in relation to increases in economic inequality
Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in the Theory and History of Psychology (PSTHP)
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This is an open access book.
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Keywords
Table of contents (4 chapters)
Reviews
"Tucker provided an invaluable body of careful scholarship that is greatly admired by those who study the history of scientific racism. This brief, new work, Race, Meritocracy, Inequality, and Politics: The Bell Curve in Perspective, was completed but unpublished when Tucker died in 2022. Here he examines the implications of The Bell Curve for the social, economic, and political developments of the early 21st century. Following a review of the reception of The Bell Curve and its place in the campaign to end affirmative action, Tucker carefully examines Herrnstein’s concept of the “meritocracy” in relation to earlier 20th century eugenics and the dramatic increase in economic inequality over the past 30 years. By examining the extreme rise in incomes in the fields of finance, corporate management, and law, Tucker shows how, contrary to The Bell Curve’s predictions, the reallocation of these huge sums was neither rational nor beneficial for society. The emergence of this “cognitive elite,” heralded by Herrnstein and Murray as key to social progress and stability, eventually contributed to the damaging anti-elitism backlash of Donald Trump’s populism. By demonstrating how The Bell Curve was clearly a social policy document that aimed to reshape society and eliminate social programs, Tucker provides an important new analysis of the interplay of science and politics, one informed by his lifelong commitment to social justice." (From the Foreword by Andrew S. Winston, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Guelph, Canada.)
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Professor Tucker sadly died before publication could be completed. This work has been prepared for publication by his colleague Professor Daniel Hart with the permission of his widow Monica Drozd.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: 'The Bell Curve' in Perspective
Book Subtitle: Race, Meritocracy, Inequality and Politics
Authors: William H. Tucker
Series Title: Palgrave Studies in the Theory and History of Psychology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41614-9
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and Psychology, Behavioral Science and Psychology (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2024
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-031-41613-2Published: 01 November 2023
eBook ISBN: 978-3-031-41614-9Published: 31 October 2023
Series ISSN: 2946-2452
Series E-ISSN: 2946-2460
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIII, 124
Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations
Topics: History of Psychology, History of Science, Ethnicity, Class, Gender and Crime, Philosophy of Science, Social Sciences, general