ASSORTMENT AND SELECTION

The following thesis is presented: 'Every system of soc structures is at the same time a system of biological processes; every change of soc systems changes the biological structure of a pop... If this is true, the biological structure of a pop can be manipulated by the manipulation of soc stru...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social research 1969-12, Vol.36 (4), p.542-548
Main Author: SCHWIDETZKY, ILSE
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biology
Biology/Biological
Cities
Cultural anthropology
Human genetics
Pigmentation
Population parameters
Population structure
Population/Populations/ Populationists
Social change
Social structure/Social structures
Social structures
Towns
Urban populations
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Summary:The following thesis is presented: 'Every system of soc structures is at the same time a system of biological processes; every change of soc systems changes the biological structure of a pop... If this is true, the biological structure of a pop can be manipulated by the manipulation of soc structures.' The question is asked whether man may manipulate the biological structure of pop's. In this context, the biological processes of assortment & selection are discussed on the basis of biological findings. Assortment processes could be seen in the past through Ru/Ur migration: those who left the country for the cities were clearly superior to the remaining part of the pop. Transportation facilities today have contributed to the leveling of the earlier diff's. Studies of constitutional diff's between sci'ts & artists, specific ability profiles of diff occup groups, etc, support the general hypothesis that continuously & everywhere in society biological assortment is at work & that it shifts continuously & everywhere in connection with soc changes. Thus the following answer to the above question suggests itself: 'We do not have the choice to manage or not to manage the biological structure of pop's-we in fact intervene continuously in the characteristics of pop's.' The appropriate question is whether this intervention should be carried on with the aid of accurate information on the biological implications of soc policy or whether it should be ignored. The answer suggested is 'Yes.' A plea is made for sci'fic study of the biological effects of soc processes & soc change. This would enable a society to recognize a crucial trend & attempt to correct it by changing its soc policy. M. Maxfield.
ISSN:0037-783X