Podcast Summary
The complex definition of merit and its potential flaws: While general cognitive ability tests are the most effective method for evaluating job performance, their use can lead to racial disparities. Group identity should not be prioritized over merit in certain fields.
The technical definition of merit involves developing criteria for a job and assessing a candidate's ability to perform the required functions. As jobs become more complex, a test of general cognitive ability, like an IQ test, is the best predictor of success. However, there is a problem with using cognitive tests because they can lead to disparate racial impact. Still, these tests are the most well-validated measures in the social and medical sciences. In her new book, When Race Trumps Merit, Heather Mac Donald argues that the insistence on group identity and representation in certain areas, like classical music or academia, ignores evidence and leads to false claims of systemic prejudice.
The Flawed Ideology of Replacing Merit with Equity: Objective tests of merit are beneficial and offer a fair admission process. The alternative is nepotism and dynasties, which are worse for everyone.
Heather Mac Donald argues that the left's replacement of the idea of merit with the idea of equity or equality of outcome is flawed because it ignores the benefits of objective tests of merit. Mac Donald questions whether the left believes in ideas of merit or accomplishment, or if they think that objective tests are covertly racist. She suggests that if they believe these tests are invalid, then admission processes should be randomized, which they will never do because these tests are valid and predict success. Without objective tests, the alternative to merit is nepotism and dynasties, which would be far worse for everyone.
The Importance of Merit-Based Selection Criteria: Removing merit-based selection criteria could lead to a lottery system where professionals are randomly assigned to customers, eliminating the element of choice. Recognizing the full range of human cognitive ability is important in weighing the potential consequences of eliminating merit-based selection criteria.
Jordan Peterson argues that removing merit-based selection criteria would lead to a lottery system where professionals are randomly assigned to customers, eliminating the element of choice. Furthermore, he states that general cognitive ability is a pervasive merit index, making it difficult to eliminate without eradicating the idea of choice and difference at every level of human society. Heather Mac Donald raises the question of whether radical egalitarians who advocate for removing merit-based selection criteria are willing to accept randomized choice of professionals and consultants in all aspects of society. The discussion highlights the importance of recognizing the full range of human cognitive ability and the potential consequences of eliminating merit-based selection criteria.
Exploring the Complexity and Diversity of Human Cognitive Ability: Everyone has unique cognitive abilities that can impact their economic outcome, but discussions about testing and ability are often driven by race. It's important to acknowledge and understand the diversity of cognitive abilities within individuals and society.
In this discussion between Jordan Peterson and Heather Mac Donald, the complexity and diversity of human cognitive ability is highlighted. Peterson explains how even seemingly simple tasks can be impossible for some individuals, while others excel in intellectual pursuits effortlessly. He emphasizes that natural cognitive ability is the most profound form of wealth and has a significant impact on one's economic outcome. However, this reality can be terrifying and difficult to address because of the vast differences in capacity that exist from birth. Mac Donald suggests that discussions about cognitive ability and testing are often driven by race, highlighting the racial disparities in the prison population as an example. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging the diversity of human cognitive abilities.
The Role of Race, Gender, and Environment in Cognitive Disparities: While race and gender can contribute to cognitive disparities, there is evidence that environmental factors play a role in improving cognitive ability. Education can also help decrease cognitive disparities by breaking the cycle of low cognitive levels within families.
In a discussion about cognitive disparities, Heather Mac Donald and Jordan Peterson explain that while there are gender differences in math skills, race is a significant factor in the perception of cognitive disparities. Nonetheless, there is evidence that environmental factors, such as improved nutrition and increased access to information, can improve general cognitive ability. However, there are still differences in cognitive ability based on class, with children from lower-income families having less exposure to verbal environments. This is attributed to a circular loop, where lower cognitive levels of parents may result in inadequate child-rearing. Cognitive resources tend to accumulate within families, and education can play a role in decreasing cognitive disparities.
The Importance of Fatherhood and Literacy Culture on IQ Differences: Fatherlessness and differences in literacy culture at a young age can impact IQ. Teaching self-control and deferring gratification may be more effective than general cognitive interventions. Addressing socioeconomic variables, like fatherlessness, can have a significant impact.
The IQ differences among different groups may be due to differences in literacy culture that can manifest as early as two years old. While efforts to increase general cognitive abilities through early childhood intervention have not been successful, focusing on socioeconomic variables such as fatherlessness may have a greater impact. There is a real biological impact of the lack of a masculine figure in the household, and this may have widespread multi-generational consequences. While it is important to address the breakdown of bourgeois values and oppositional culture, it may be more effective to focus on teaching self-control and deferring gratification.
The Negative Impact of Fatherlessness on Society: Single-parent families increase poverty rates and contribute to a self-destructive lifestyle. Society must re-examine its values and instill a culture of responsibility and future orientation to address the problem of fatherlessness.
The problem of fatherlessness is pervasive and has negative consequences on general psychological well-being, cognitive development, and economic opportunities. Kids growing up in single-parent families are four to five times more likely to be poor. Boys growing up in a culture that does not expect them to get married before fathering children are absolved of the types of expectations that can help them become functioning males, leading to a self-destructive lifestyle. The solution is difficult, and requires society to re-examine its relationship between the sexes, and to instill a culture that values responsibility and future orientation.
The Overlooked Factors of Poverty: Poverty is not solely defined by income and government benefits - passing on social capital and traits that promote discipline, dedication, and the ability to follow-through with contracts are crucial factors for success. Conservatives must avoid assuming that money is the only problem for the poor.
Heather Mac Donald discusses the misconception in Western societies that poverty is solely defined by income and government benefits. Passing on social capital and traits that promote discipline, dedication, and the ability to follow-through with contracts are crucial factors that are often overlooked. These values are often associated with the “bourgeois” class, which is the subject of criticism from the left. However, according to Jordan Peterson, these values are functional and preconditions for success. Having money without being socialized with these values can lead to a deep-rooted poverty. Conservatives must avoid assuming that the lack of money is the only problem for the poor.
Rethinking Poverty: The Significance of Conscientiousness and Authority.: Conscientiousness, regardless of ethnicity, is a strong predictor of long-term economic success. Inculcating conscientious virtues, like self-discipline and respect for authority, could help close racial gaps in outcomes. Strategies like small group homes or no-excuses charter schools could be effective in promoting these values.
The left exclusively defines poverty in terms of economic levels and ignores cultural factors, such as conscientiousness and respect for authority. These values are often criticized as "white" and viewed as blaming the victim. However, there is no evidence of intrinsic ethnic differences in conscientiousness, and it is the second-best predictor of long-term lifetime economic success. Inculcating conscientious virtues could help remediate racial differences in outcome, as seen in the success of first-generation Asian immigrants. However, duplicating this on an educational or societal level is not obvious. Effective solutions could include small group homes or no-excuses charter schools that emphasize self-discipline and strict rules.
The Dangers of the Equity Doctrine: Harmful Effects of Diversity Quotas: Diversity quotas enforced under the equity doctrine harm marginalized communities by letting them into fields where they are not adequately prepared, leading to a cycle of failure and mistrust. Racial disparities in certain fields may be due to an academic skills gap, not systemic racism.
Heather Mac Donald and Jordan Peterson discuss the dangers of the equity doctrine, which suggests that if there is not a proportional representation of a particular race in an institution, then the institution is inherently racist. This belief system has caused numerous institutions to lower their standards, which harms merit-based hiring and admissions. Mac Donald argues that the reason for racial disparities in certain fields is due to an academic skills gap, rather than systemic racism. As such, enforcing diversity quotas can actually harm marginalized communities by letting them into fields where they are not adequately prepared, leading to a cycle of failure and mistrust.
The Negative Consequences of Dismantling Objective Meritocratic Standards: Removing objective meritocratic standards in institutions and research may hinder progress and deprive society of its potential best, which includes excellence and competitiveness in global markets.
The rise of objective, colorblind testing like the SATs gave us the first wave of cognitive elite in our meritocratic institutions, starting with Jews and now with Asians who excel based on objective meritocratic standards. However, tearing down these standards due to their disparate impact on blacks, even though they are not racist, will halt progress and scientific advances. Medical schools are junking objective tests of merit, and federal science agencies like the National Institutes of Health are determining research priorities based on disparate impact, shifting precious federal taxpayer research dollars from pure science into research on racism and racial disparities in health. The consequence is depriving ourselves of the best that our entire society has to offer, including excellence and competitiveness in global markets.
How Racial Equity is Negatively Impacting Academics, Science, and Art: The dismantling of gifted and talented programs and exam schools in the name of racial equity is preventing students from maximizing their potential, while the push for diversity statements in science and the artistic world is diminishing their comparative advantage and causing them to lose focus on advancing knowledge.
Heather Mac Donald discusses the dismantling of gifted and talented programs and exam schools in the name of racial equity, stating that this is preventing students from maximizing their potential. Additionally, she argues that the push for diversity, equity, and inclusion statements in science is diminishing the comparative advantage of scientists and reducing their focus on advancing knowledge. Mac Donald also asserts that the artistic world is being negatively impacted by the equity crusade, as it is a source of human joy and transcendence. She argues that the great conversation on science and the anti-poverty revolution has predominantly been among the Anglo-American, European sphere, but is now being viewed as a source of white supremacy.
The False Charges of Racism in Western Traditions: The accusations against Western art, literature, and museums being racist solely because of their predominantly white history is not only unfair but also denigrates the great works of art. It's important to appreciate creativity and not be influenced by racial resentment.
Western traditions of art, literature, and museums are being torn down on false charges of racism. It is claimed that traditions that were born in Europe, which historically has been predominantly white, are racist. However, this is a one-sided game, and it is not expected that other cultures, such as African or Chinese, have diverse artists or writers. Museum curators are now turning on their own collections, even those donated by generous donors over the centuries, to teach young people to see beauty through the eyes of racial resentment. This attitude denigrates the great works of art and invites viewers to feel morally superior, rather than being in awe and gratitude for the creative ability of the artists.
The Alarming Trend of Art Institutions and Academic Leaders Turning Against Traditional Education: Universities promoting resentment towards Western civilization are causing students to reject reading authors based on race and gender. Narcissistic emphasis on subjective feelings and nihilism towards a unifying identity is causing anxiety, hopelessness and social disunion.
Jordan Peterson and Heather Mac Donald discuss the alarming trend of art institutions and academic leaders turning against their own traditions, promoting rhetoric of hatred and resentment towards Western civilization. This is causing students to embrace their ignorance and reject reading authors simply because they are white males. Such a fragmented hedonistic identity produces anxiety, hopelessness, and social disunion. This contradicts the very goal of going to university, which is to flesh out one's identity, come into contact with other modes of apprehension, and be more firmly grounded and hopeful mentally. The universities, in their quest for power, have produced a narcissistic emphasis on subjective feeling and a corrosive nihilism towards a unifying identity.
The "Feminization" of Universities and its Effects on Freedom of Speech and Intellectual Inquiry: The prioritization of safety over rationality in women, potentially due to higher levels of neuroticism, is leading to a shutdown of freedom of speech and intellectual inquiry. Claiming speech is harmful is just a way for victim groups to gain attention.
According to Heather Mac Donald in conversation with Jordan Peterson, the "feminization" of universities is leading to a shutdown of freedom of speech and intellectual inquiry, particularly among women who tend to prioritize safety over rationality. While this could be due to higher levels of neuroticism and a desire to protect others from harm, Mac Donald argues that the claim that speech is harmful is "completely BS" and just a way for victim groups to gain attention. Peterson and Mac Donald plan to delve deeper into this issue on the Daily Wire Plus platform.
