Racist Nobel Prize winner Dr. James Watson has resigned his post at the Cold Spring Harbor research laboratory amid the backlash over his remarks earlier this month about the genetic inferiority of black people. This controversy has caused some conflict within the scientific community as well, with many arguing that if there is a genetic difference between black and white people, that doesn't equate to racism. However, Watson's statements are not scientific and are based on nothing more than anecdotal evidence of what he claims to be the negative opinions of employers toward their black employees. For that, I have no problem seeing him sent packing from the scientific community. But, as Dr. Steven Novella pointed out on the latest episode of the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, the disdain of racism is an ethical position which shouldn't rely on any hypothetical genetic discovery. More details about Watson's resignation here.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Watson Washed Up
