Archival documents show that Wilson was a strong supporter of scientific racist Philippe Rushton. Were his critics right all along in their critiques of sociobiology?
Thanks for this very interesting perspective! I like the fact that you are clear about the fact that Wilson's behaviour in supporting Rushton et al. was racist behaviour on Wilson's part.
One question, I've heard it said that the pitcher of water was dumped on Wilson's head by "the Science of the People" folk. Do you have any information on the veracity of this claim?
Thank you! As for the pitcher of water, that was dumped on Wilson's head by a member of the International Committee Against Racism--a front group of the Progressive Labor Party--and ICAR took full credit for it. I think the rumor that it was one of the Sociobiology or SftP group was started by Ullica Segerstrale in her book "Defenders of the Truth, a detailed but biased account of the sociobiology wars. In the book, she says that she "thought" she recognized the ICAR person from a Sociobiology Study Group meeting, sort of guilt by association, but Beckwith in his memoir dissociates the group from this action and they condemned it at the time. Setting the historical record straight...
Thank you! It really is important to have a clear historical record. I hope that we will see more nuanced accounts of the sociobiology feud coming out now.
Thanks for this very interesting perspective! I like the fact that you are clear about the fact that Wilson's behaviour in supporting Rushton et al. was racist behaviour on Wilson's part.
One question, I've heard it said that the pitcher of water was dumped on Wilson's head by "the Science of the People" folk. Do you have any information on the veracity of this claim?
Thank you! As for the pitcher of water, that was dumped on Wilson's head by a member of the International Committee Against Racism--a front group of the Progressive Labor Party--and ICAR took full credit for it. I think the rumor that it was one of the Sociobiology or SftP group was started by Ullica Segerstrale in her book "Defenders of the Truth, a detailed but biased account of the sociobiology wars. In the book, she says that she "thought" she recognized the ICAR person from a Sociobiology Study Group meeting, sort of guilt by association, but Beckwith in his memoir dissociates the group from this action and they condemned it at the time. Setting the historical record straight...
Thank you! It really is important to have a clear historical record. I hope that we will see more nuanced accounts of the sociobiology feud coming out now.