Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues (Print ISSN: 1544-0036; Online ISSN: 1544-0044)

Abstract

Ethical facets of ethnic biologism

Author(s): Irina Savchenko, Zhanna Nikonova, Anna Gorokhova, Nikita Martyushev, Sergey Belyaev

The present article focuses on ethno social biology and a quasi-scientific racist methodology invented to serve the interests of ruling ethnic minorities to infringe and humiliate the majority. It is proved that contemporary works of a racist scope obscure mass consciousness and diverts attention from the most acute up-to-date problems. The biological criterion of people's ethnogenetic sorting proved its unreliability in antiquity. Therefore, this criterion was simulated using artificial changes in the skull shape among the peoples of Asia and America. Criticism of ethnosocial biology points out that, contrary to popular belief, it does not emphasize the connection of ethnic groups with nature but destroys it. The simulation of biological superiority (or inferiority) goes against the historical laws of nature and society, and the gap between culture and nature affects the development of people adversely. The authors draw attention to the instrumentalist, constructivist, and functionalist approaches. However, constituting a worthy alternative to ethnobiological approaches, it seeks to present an ethnic community as a construct easily created within one generation. These approaches separate the ethnic group from its natural – landscape-geographical roots. The researchers urge to avoid identifying primordial approaches with vulgar biologization. The authors conclude that integrally disintegrative dynamics is the only possible form of vulgar biologization development, not implying biocultural homogeneity. Vulgar biologization is implicated in common mass culture and leads to the complete emasculation of historical memory. Vice versa, maximum preservation of ethnocultural identity can become the foundation of intercultural integration.

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