Can Statements of Fact be Immoral?

Saletan's recent article in Slate summarizing the evidence for the reality and heritability of IQ was something of a dambusting event in the mainstream media. The general public previously had had few opportunities to hear what the evidence was. In the name of political correctness, IQ is one of the most lied-about phenomena of the age. The last thing anyone hears is the evidence.

Saletan did of course come under heavy attack for his "immoral" article and I have commented myself on some of that criticism (e.g. here) but for a really comprehensive reply to the critics, see an article by Linda Gottfredson. Although Gottfredson and I are both psychometricians, she specializes in ability measurement while I do not. So you get a very throrough and detailed -- but still readable -- account of the matter from her.

Curious how Leftists say "There is no such thing as right and wrong" but suddenly decide that an argument or a statement is "immoral" when the facts of the matter don't suit them!

I simply laugh when Leftists talk about something as being immoral. Since they believe that all such statements are empty truth-claims, it is obvious hypocrisy when they make such statements. But the reason why they make such statements is to persuade non-Leftists. Saying things that they do not themselves believe is all in a day's work for Leftists. So it is interesting that Linda Gottfredson goes on to point out ways in which it is immoral to DENY the reality of differences in IQ.

I set out here reasons why most statements of right and wrong are not empty truth claims -- though some are, of course.

(For more postings from me, see TONGUE-TIED, EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL, GREENIE WATCH, POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH, FOOD & HEALTH SKEPTIC, GUN WATCH, SOCIALIZED MEDICINE, AUSTRALIAN POLITICS, DISSECTING LEFTISM, IMMIGRATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL and EYE ON BRITAIN. My Home Pages are here or here or here. Email me (John Ray) here.)