PSYC204 Justice, Race and Class

Note: This information is for 2013, and may have been updated since the Guide to Enrolment was printed.

Prescription

Ranking races and classes by intelligence or ‘merit’ from Plato to Jensen.

Prerequisite: One of PSYC 111, 112, PHIL 103, POLS 101, SOCI 101

Schedule C: Arts and Music, Science

Note: May not be credited together with PSYC 321 passed before 2005.

Lecturer

Emeritus Professor James Flynn

Course Outline

Jensen and The Bell Curve are used to show that psychologists study race and class without the necessary philosophical sophistication. Aristotle, Huxley, and Skinner are cited as thinkers who tried to collapse moral philosophy into psychology. An over-riding theme is whether a combination of these two disciplines can provide a defence of humane ideals. This culminates in a critical analysis of Nietzsche’s anti-humane ideals.

Prerequisites

Either PSYC 111 or PSYC 112, or PHIL 103, or POLS 101, or SOCI 101

Internal Assessment

Internal assessment contributes 33.3% to the final grade for PSYC 204.

Required Reading

Deary, I. J. (2001). Intelligence. Oxford University Press.

Flynn, J. R. (2008). Where have all the liberals gone? Race, class and ideals in America. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Flynn, J. R. (2009). What is intelligence? Beyond the Flynn effect. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Flynn, J. R. (2012). Fate and philosophy: A Journey though Life's Great Questions. AWA Press.

Herrnstein, R. J., & Murray, C. (1994). The Bell Curve. New York: Free Press.

Rushton, J. P. (1999). Race, evolution, and behavior (abridged ed.). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.

Additional readings will be assigned.

Timetable