2025/12/16 by Phila Mfundo Msimang, Sahotra Sarkar · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Arts and Humanities · #Race, Genetics, and Society #Medical History and Research #Philosophy and History of Science
paper · doi:10.4324/9781003381051-40
This chapter focuses on the history of the philosophy behind race science. Although the scientific and philosophical debate about race goes back to the early modern period in Europe, given the scope of this volume, this chapter focuses on the debates of the 19th and 20th centuries. We begin by exploring the influence of evolutionary biology on race science, which, while undermining typological race concepts, fuelled racist ideologies like Social Darwinism and eugenics. These movements, advocating for selective breeding and the elimination of the “unfit”, used race science to legitimize colonialism, imperialism, and other social hierarchies. We then discuss how the German atrocities during World War II, decolonization in Africa and Asia shortly afterward, and the struggle for equality were accompanied by scientific and philosophical attacks on the validity of race as a biological category during the second half of the 20th century. We end the chapter with short comments on developments since 2000.